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Lightbringer
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Kodak stood there for a moment. His tail wagging happily, his fresh catch in his mouth. But that's when he noticed something was wrong. She should be back by now. Catch or no catch. His stomach dropped. Was she okay? Had the patrol caught her? These worries made Kodak take off running in the direction she went. Mud flying everywhere behind him. He had to find her. He wouldn't leave her out alone. He rounded a corner, following the familiar scent of Lidiya, and her tracks in the fresh mud. With his catch still in his mouth, as he forgot to drop it, he started to call Lidiya 's name. "Lidiya!" He screamed. How far had she gotten? He knew she was fast, and in the time it had taken him to catch his rabbit, she could be anywhere. The clearing was huge, with its tall grass only now beginning to die and turn the color of wheat. He wouldn't be able to see her, and wouldn't be able to follow her tracks anymore. As they ended in the mud up a little further. Where could she be? He jumped over a rotted log, not losing any of his speed. He rounded another corner, picking up her tracks again, When suddenly she appeared I front of him. Her paws were muddy, and so was he underbelly from running In the mud, and he hadn't expected her to jump in front of him, and he plowed straight into her. As he did so, he knocked himself off balance and went tumbling into the high grass, which unfortunately hid a huge muddle of mud, and he went splashing into it, covering himself in the sticky liquid, and giving his pelt a muddy brown color instead of its white and brown. Luckily he had dropped the rabbit as he ran into her. But now he was covering head to tail in pure mud. He rose to his paws and tried to shake himself off, to know prevail. "Argh!" He yelled, his face curling into a look of disgust. "I'm covered in mud!" He walked out of the mud puddle and stood in front of Lidiya and all he could think was the field day she would have with his appearance. |
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Neutral
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Lidiya never giggled like those idiot she-wolves that all the males flocked towards like they were permanently on heat. In fact, she was quite possibly one of the most polar opposites that you could get to that. Yet as Kodak hurled towards her, and they both ended up covered in mud, she had quite the irrational urge to do exactly that as Kodak futilely attempted to get the mud off of him. That'd definitely be sticking on him for a good while, and while her white coat was also muddy from Kodak slamming into her, it was definitely worth it. Bottom line, Lidiya did care about her appearance (and recently more so next to Kodak, but she'd never admit it) but right now, who else was the to judge? She'd have to use some wet grass to scrub the mud off - thankfully it had rained so there wasn't any shortage of that - and although she wasn't the type of wolf to consistently preen herself, she'd do it eventually. Right now though, the massive wall of mud she had on her right flank and legs was definitely worth watching Kodak attempt to get it off him - like it'd matter, with the drizzle and the mud that would consistently get on them. Lidiya did notice the rabbit that he had dropped - into the exact mud that both of them had slipped up on, funnily enough. But then that attention was eclipsed quite quickly by another thought - why had Kodak come running to find her? Was there something else that she'd missed? Picking up the rabbit from the muddy ground and loosely holding it in her jaws - she'd give it to Kodak once they were away from the mud, and considering how fast he'd been going, she was ready to take off quickly - and asked him the question that had eclipsed her amusement at Kodak being covered in mud. "Is... everything alright?" No way that her former pack had caught up to them that quickly. There was absolutely no way... right? |
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Lightbringer
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Kodak again tried to shake the mud off of him, but once again it proved to be futile. Lidiya had gotten some mud of her as well, but she wouldn't be able to lie down and disappear as he now could because of the mud soaked into his coat. She picked up the rabbit he had caught, and then a look of worry flashed across her face. "Oh nothings wrong, I just couldn't find you, and was..." He trailed off, trying to find the words to put it, without sounding weak. He was worried that maybe she was in trouble, maybe caught by the other wolves. But how would he put it. Oh I was scared you were to weak and was coming to save you? Or I was worried you couldn't handle yourself? Or the real reason? That he didn't want to be left out here in the wilderness without her? Alone. "I was just worried." He finished, hoping she wouldn't pry at his reasoning. He didn't want to be left out her with her pack trying to hunt him down. And he didn't want her to leave his side either. ... Even though Kodak had specifically told Hymir and Commodus not to tell anyone about his condition. They couldn't hold this promise, the first time they had ever gone back on his orders. But they had told their mates. Commodus' mate had held this secret, but Hymir's cold not. She told her closest friend, who told their family, and so on, until everyone in the camp knew Kodak was alive, except Njord. That was until Atari had overheard someone speaking on the matter, and had at once tonight this of a threat. As most rumors go, it had been manipulated from wolf to wolf, and had been turned into Kodak rallying loners, and that he was going to come back and take over the pack, ridding them of Njord. As Atari mentioned this to Njord, Njord grew furious. He contacted his guards, of whom were loyal to him and not to Kodak, and made a search party. His best trackers and scouts in his royal guard, to go and find him, and bring him back, dead or alive, but preferably alive. Njord wanted to kill him himself. Njord picked Hoku, his best tracker, Hokoshiko, his best scout, and Hiku, his largest guard. All of whom were loyal to Njord, even though they were Hymir's sons. And he sent them out after Kodak. |
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Neutral
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A smile slashed through Lidiya's face, although inwardly she blushed slightly. Kodak cared about her. That was... a first. Nobody had done that in a long time. Not since her mother, and her subsequent actions. Nobody had cared. And Kodak... honestly, he seemed to. Lidiya looked down, hoping to hide the embarrassment that would now be showing on her face. "Oh. Ahh... thanks." She didn't really know what to say, exactly - it wasn't exactly something that she was used to. Like she had said earlier, Kodak was a lot of firsts with her - and these emotions that she'd never really felt, too oblivious and uncaring of most of the wolves that shunned her or didn't really care about her - it was new. By dropping her head, though, the rabbit that Kodak had caught drooped with it, and suddenly she recalled it was still hanging between her jaws. The general rule that all wolves abided to was whoever got the kill got the food. This was Kodak's kill - and she had it right now. Struggling to hide her embarrassment now - really, had she had to have done that? - she awkwardly dropped the rabbit on a patch of grass that hadn't had the mud seep through it. "I guess we should start moving off now?" The rain had lessened even further, and while it'd gradually wash the mud off of the two of them, it was light enough that they could probably keep going now. And it'd stop her from being so embarrassed, too. ~ "I don't know anything!" Dev sobbed, for probably the tenth time. Unlike what Lidiya had pulled Kodak from from the collapsing den, Dev wasn't as lucky. Fortunately, Dev was also part of the pack. So Alpha Cooper wouldn't injure him - that much. Unfortunately, the key word there was "that much." It was still early, and Dev was lying on his side, front left paw broken, and the enforcers and Alpha Cooper doing a rather great job of interrogating Dev. What kind of sick wolves would interrogate a juvenile from their own pack? you may ask. Well, this pack apparently did. They took the escape of Kodak and Lidiya... quite personally, actually. Alpha Cooper had been at this for almost an hour, and they had gotten nothing out of Dev past what they already knew. And he could see that Dev clearly knew nothing. That didn't exactly stop him from interrogating Dev, however. With one final glance at the juvenile's huddled, shivering body, wracked with fear, he stormed out of the den, issuing orders left and right. "Dev doesn't seem to know anything. Gather the team that we organized last night." His eyes flashed as he issued the next order - one that he'd personally take pleasure in executing himself. "Time we went after them and brought them back." What Alpha Cooper didn't imply was that he planned to bring them back dead. And behind him, Dev still sat, curled in a ball, his left paw broken and would probably take weeks to heal, and still shivering with fear as Alpha Cooper's voice gradually faded. To hunt down and kill his older sister. (Sorry it's a bit short, my brain just isn't in it today >.>) |
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Lightbringer
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Kodak had noticed the small bit of embarrassment that had appeared on her face, and he smiled at that. He could see it now. She did like him. But what would he do? He didn't want to just outright confess his feelings to her. Even though it was tradition to let the male ask out the female. He it just didn't seem right. He didn't know for sure if she thought that about him. And he didn't want to make it more awkward between the two of them. Knowing they were running from their homes. No doubt that her pack thought that they were one of those "runaway love stories" like you hear about the founding alphas. He wanted to wait for her approval. He wanted her to make the first move. Then he would make his. Yeah. That seemed right. As she dropped the rabbit and seemed to disregard it, she turned to try to walk off. Then it dawned on him. It was tradition in his pack too. For the hunter to eat his own kill unless of a surplus supply. Then it would go to the prey pile. But no. They were in this together, and even though she didn't get a kill, he wasn't not going to have her not eat. Not on his watch. He decided to play it a little cool. He cocked his head to the side, a confused look in his golden gaze. "Where do you think you're going?" He asked, rising to his paws and moving towards the rabbit. He nosed it with his snout and moved it towards her. Keeping it on the untouched grass, while emphasizing his point. "We eat together. Even if you didn't get a kill, you still eat." He nosed it a little farther, implying that she eat first. "And I know you are a little stubborn, so we aren't going anywhere til you eat." Then he layed down, crossing his paws ever so slightly, curling his tail around his legs, a gesture of respect and of dominance, and waited for her to eat first. Sure, he was higher ranked then her. But he didn't care. Out here, they were equal, no matter his background. He could be alpha, and she an omega, but he would still do this. He wanted her to know that rank didn't apply to him anymore. Even if it would take getting used to. |
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Neutral
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Lidiya started in slight suprise. That was... not something she had been expecting. Kodak cared enough about her to give her the rabbit. Despite it wasn't hers, he cared enough to do exactly that. Only her mother had ever done such a thing for her - even then, it was while she was still young. Turning around to Kodak, Lidiya's embarrassment only grew from that point. "Kodak... isn't it your kill, though?" Even as she said it, Kodak's posture clearly indicated that he wasn't going to touch it. That... somehow, he wanted her to have it. Inwardly, she felt a little spark of - something - as Kodak determinedly tried to get here to eat it first, as well as a smile - that had nothing to do with said emotion at all - touching her muzzle. As well as her stomach saying exactly what Kodak had said - to eat it. In fact, the last time she'd eaten was... honestly, a few days ago, if memory served her right. But then she didn't have a massive gash in her side, and wasn't recovering from a battle. "You're injured," she protested half-heartedly as she turned back towards Kodak, looking at him. Even her own words sounded bad to herself. Kodak was injured, yet here he was, giving Lidiya some of his kill. "I... okay, fine," she finally relented with a sigh - and an averted smile - hopefully he didn't see it - as Kodak sat there, waiting for her to make up her decision. "But only half, okay?" Not waiting for an answer, she tore a leg off the rabbit. |
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Lightbringer
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She tried to protest, suggest alternatives, but he wasn't hearing it. He even back up alittle. Making her see that he wouldn't eat til she ate first. He heard her say she was only going to eat half, but he wasn't going to hear any of that either. He shook his large brown muddy head and heaved a sigh. "I'm not going to touch it. You eat it or the coyotes will." He knew that would get her attention. He could tell she wasn't going to have anyone waste food, especcially her. And besides, he could hunt later, maybe even when she was asleep. But again that was a bad idea. What if he got lost? What if he couldn't find his way back to her, or if she moved during the night to try to find him. Then they would both be lost. No, he would hunt either tomorrow or the day after. As he watched her eat his stomach rumbled, but he ignored it. He knew she hadn't eaten in awhile, and they both needed their strength. He cared about her and her well being, and if he needed to hunt another rabbit he would. But he knew the search party would be nearing in on them, so he wouldn't have the time. Oh well. Even if his stomach protested, he wouldn't leave til she finished that rabbit. "And I'm not leaving til you finish." He added, emphasizing his point further. .. Hoku, Hiku, and Hokoshiko continued down the trail. Hoku using his tracking skills easy found the trail, even though it had rained earlier that day. They had fled north. Away from the other packs, into uncharted territory. It would be a hard time finding them. But Hokoshiko, using his scouting abilities, knew the territory up there better, as Njord had sent him out there before to scout for more territory and a way into Grey Hill. Hiku on the other hand, just tagged along. Waiting to protect his brothers if needed. If Grey Hill was over here, Hiku would be able to fight at least two. So they were safe. They were at least a days journey behind. But slowly they were beginning to creep up on the two runaways. |
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Neutral
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Honestly, Lidiya was quite touched by Kodak's gesture of letting her eat his catch. It was just... such a nice thing to do, and Lidiya would definitely remember it. She considered making a few more arguments - surely he could eat some - then discarded it. By his posture, he clearly wasn't hearing any of it, and... all that Lidiya kept coming back to in her head was that he cared. He had cared enough about her to go looking for her, and cared enough to give her his rabbit. She no longer saw Kodak as a threat, or just osmeone she was helping to escape. With his show of trust, she... felt something else about that, too. But that was beside the point. Finishing up the rabbit - it either had tasted really good because she hadn't really eaten in days, or because it was Kodak's little gift for her - she finally looked up at Kodak. Despite the mud on his white and brown form, she still couldn't fail to have her breath slightly catch at his powerful form - one that she had felt underneath her muzzle last night. And- - these thoughts were not productive at all. Damn, she probably hadn't ever been as embarrassed in her entire life. Not with mud on half of her body, Kodak having actually cared about her - something that she'd never learnt that others would do to hher - and now she was admiring Kodak. Which was not useful right now. "Well..." she finally managed to speak once she leveled her voice. "I guess we should move off now then?" She risked looking at Kodak again as she said this. |
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Lightbringer
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Kodak continued to watch as she finished the rabbit, his eyes not leaving her. She just looked so... beautiful. Even with the mud covering half her body she just took his breath away. Although he would never say anything. As she finished he lowered his gaze so she wouldn't know he had been staring. But when she spoke, he rose to his paws and stretched. His stomach still protesting at the fact he had given up his lunch. She did the same, as he noticed the swift movements she made, and the way her tail slowly wagged. Her white and Grey dappled pelt slowly moved as she breathed, giving her a heavenly appearance. He shook his head. He couldn't think like that now, knowing Grey Hill could be right around the corner. "Yes.." He started, still trying to get it together. "We should go." He shook his pelt once again. Trying to get the mud off, knowing he looked like a fool in doing so. It just wouldn't come off. But where would they go? Maybe to that pack Lidiya mentioned earlier? Live on the run forever? Form their own pack? But that would mean... no. Don't think like that. Maybe there was another pack that would take them in. Offer them protection. Hadn't Lidiya mentioned one before? Or did he imagine it? "Lidiya?" He started, curiosity in his voice "didn't you mention another pack back in the prisiners den? Maybe we could go there?" His mind wondered to the possibility. Would they even let them in? Would they treat them like Eastern Mountain and Grey Hill? Would they treat them kindly? Or reject them? But even as his mind churned with the possibilities, it still began to wonder back to his earlier thought. What if Kodak and Lidiya formed their own pack? |
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Neutral
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Lidiya shrugged. "Let's just get away from here before we think it over too much." While she didn't have much of a plan - whether they were going to find somewhere else to join, or... make their own pack - Lidiya refused to think what that would entail - they wouldn't be able to do any of that if they were caught. And it was only now that she was acutely aware that her pack had probably sent out an enforcement squad to chase them down. There were some wolf packs nearby - well, not really near, but close enough. But Lidiya just wanted away first. And she was fully aware that Kodak was now trusting her that she'd know. In fact, in his expression - he completely trusted her. For some reason, that made her slightly nervous. What happened if she was wrong about something Kodak had trusted her about? What happened if she accidentally broke it somehow? She... just couldn't. So, taking the first step for once, she motioned with her muzzle for the two of them to start moving again. Because, even after her embarrassment, they had to realize that they were still on the run. And all the other wolf packs that might have shown a shred of sympathy were probably days away. |
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Spring Month: 2 
Night 
Heavy Rain Moon: 
