Third time's the charm [Zeb]

[Sunstorm]

They always said that the third time was the charm, right? Let's hope that whoever 'they' were is correct. I wasn't sure if I could take a third heartbreak, what with the war already stressing me out. But let's not think about that. So far, Zeb was appealing to me. He certainly was handsome, especially with that strange gaze. One eye green, one yellow. It was beautiful.

The walk from the borderline to these Grasslands hadn't been too long, for the Grasslands was what connected the packs. It had been close by from where we had been located. "Well, here we are," I said when we broke through the treeline, our eyes taking in the waving grasses of our hunting grounds. The sky was stil a clear blue, which was unusual. It'd been rainy for so long that even though it might be sunny in the morning, rain would come in the afternoon. We'd gotten a lot of rain recently.

It was good, though, that it was sunny today, for I could always scent better. I had been lead hunter before becoming Beta, so I hadn't lost too much of my touch. I glanced at Zeb again. "Smell anything?" I couldn't scent anything but grasses, and the flowers that were beginning to bloom.

[badger]

[atrb=border,0,true][cs=7][bg=a0a0a0] We were on the hunt. I couldn't have wanted anything more. Sweet Fur was so pretty. Her black pelt totally contradicted my white fur, but you know what they say about opposites attracting. She was just so sweet, I couldn't find another way to put it. She made my mood boost so much higher than it was, and I never thought I could be happy again, but she made me happy. "Well, here we are." I nodded, looking around and sniffing for anything to snap up. "Yea," said and closed my eyes, "it's a...it's a," I walked around Sweet Fur, still with my eyes closed. "A...Sweet Fur!" I barked happily, poking my nose at her shoulder as I said her name.

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[Sunstorm]

A laugh bubbled through my throat, because I couldn't deny that it was funny. It was funny. "Nice one," I said when I could talk again. My shoulder tingled where his nose had poked me. I knew why. "But I'm sure you wouldn't want to eat me, would you?" I said teasingly, since we were on a hunt and all. I put on a mock expression of suspiciousness. "You're not a cannibal, are you?" I asked him, trying to keep my face straight. I'd never been a good acter, so the corners of my mouth were twitching, trying to form into a smile, so it probably ruined the teasing mockery of suscipiousness.

I had to admit that I was having a good time, though. I hadn't really talked with a wolf like this in a while--talked about nothing but casual, whatever stuff. Not since Zaniem. Maybe it was time to get over all this. Perhaps I was long overdue for that.

[badger]

[atrb=border,0,true][cs=7][bg=a0a0a0] I smiled as Sweet Fur laughed. She was adorable when she laughed. "Nice one, but I'm sure you wouldn't want to eat me, would you?" She looked at me with suspicion, but i could tell she was pretending, she kept trying not to laugh the whole time. "You're not a cannibal, are you?" I laughed a little and replied, "Nah," I could tell she was having fun. It was like a weight had been lifted off her, and she was letting herself relax. I felt good too, after such a stressful time in my life. It was nice to have someone I could just chill with, and not have to worry about conflicts or sneaking off.

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[Sunstorm]

He seemed to be in a better mood than when I first met him, just as I was happier. Perhaps we were bringing out the better side of each other. I liked that thought. "Okay," I sighed, scanning the large field. I was hungry, and so we were going to get this hunting thing over with. Then maybe we'd go for a walk...Get to know each other...

"Over here," I murmured, swishing my tail as I located the scents, and then, a moment later, located the herd. As my tail swished, it brushed Zeb's fur. I smiled at that, biting my lip as I tried to hide it. I felt my cheeks warm up--in a good way.

I trotted forward, and then when I was closer, I crouched down. I'd go one way, he'd go the other. We'd take out the youngest or the weakest...I hadn't targetted my prey yet. That I was doing now. "Okay, you see the one with the limp? I murmured softly, glancing at the white wolf before nodding towards the older deer with the limp. It was trying to stand tall and proud, as if it were healthy, but the limp was there. He wouldn't fool us today.

[badger]

[atrb=border,0,true][cs=7][bg=a0a0a0] I could tell that Sweet Fur wanted to get down to business, and I understood. I was hungry too. "Over here." Her black tassel swung happily, and gently brushed my side. I noticed that she was trying to hide that she had done it, but it was pretty obvious. I smiled, but said nothing. She picked up the pace and I followed next to her. I could scent the deer, and Sweet Fur crouched down. I followed, right by her side. "Okay, you see the one with the limp?" My odd gaze scanned the herd, and soon locked onto a buck with a slight limp. He looked big, even though his injury was slowing him down. He probably wouldn't go without a fight. "Yep, I see him, Which way do you want me to go?" I said quietly. My stomach growled in anticipation, but the hardest part was yet to come.

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[Sunstorm]

'Yep, I see him, Which way do you want me to go?'

I considered for a moment, taking in the size of the herd as well as the size of the buck itself. "Go to the left, try to cut him off from the rest of the herd. I'm not sure how much he'll slow down, but he may be our best chance." The others looked healthier, and there didn't seem to be any fawns with this herd. I would have said go after the babies, but none were here. Figures. We'd probably be fine, though, if we were careful. If we slipped up, injuries would be recieved. No one wanted that, not right now.

"When I say go," I whispered, creeping closer. If things went right, Zeb's path would scatter the herd from our prey, while I would chase him in the direction away from the herd. If things went well. "Go."

[badger]

[atrb=border,0,true][cs=7][bg=a0a0a0] I nodded as Sweet Fur gave me her directions. "Go." As soon as the word left her mouth, I flew to the left, very fast, very low. The buck was in sight, and I slowed down. I wanted to surprise him. I was lying about ten feet away from him and when the deer was close, I sprang into action. I sped right in front of him, my teeth snapping and snarling. The buck ran in the other direction, and I followed. Waiting for Sweet Fur's appearance. My stomach was nibbling in anticipation, but the work had only just begun.

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[Sunstorm]

Thread notes: this thread is open.

The Wolfies: Sweet Fur
Including: Zeb
Inspiration: N/A
Post Length: 397
Notes: N/A


As soon as the single word rolled from my tongue, Zeb took off. I could hardly see his white pelt in the grasses, just the flowing grasses parting as he darted through them. He was doing perfectly, just as I had asked him. He slowed, waiting for the right time to spring at the buck.

I, meanwhile, was bounding to the right, keeping my body in a supposedly non-threatening manner. The buck had its eye on me, and that I knew. I was trying to untangle my thoughts, which were so wrapped around the lovely appearance of Zeb. Concentrate, girl! You could think about him later. The soft white of his pelt, the deep masculine voice, the way you could see his muscles ripple under his fur as he walked....

Quit! Concentrate! I snapped out of it, forcing myself to hunker down into hunting mode. This time, having snapped out of my admiring state and realized it, I succeded in getting my head in the right place. I crouched down, gliding forward to the right of the buck. Zeb was to my far left, and he lunged out of his hiding place, snapping and snarling at the buck. Our prey nearly forgot about me, turning and running away from the herd. Excatly what I had wanted! The hard part hadn't yet come, but this was a step in the right direction. I darted out of my own hiding spot, a snarl leaving my throat as the deer came in my direction. It slowed, warily watching both Zeb and I. I tensed my muscles, edging closer as it swing it's head to watch us both. The instant it turned its head away from me and I was no longer in its peripheal, I sprang. I sent a silent prayer to the hunting God, hoping that my leap wwas measured correctly. I landed, thankfully, on target, hitting the side. I wasn't ready to deliver to the death bite, but the more he was wounded before we got to it, the easier it would be.

The impact hit my narrow chest cage, and it hurt, but my body took it well. My teeth searched for a good hold, though I was slipping. Hopefully I had delivered the damage, but for now I had to spring out of the way. I wasn't going to risk getting hit by those large hooves.

[badger]

[atrb=border,0,true][cs=7][bg=a0a0a0] I chased the buck toward Sweet Fur, and it stopped, confused. The buck looked at me for one moment too long as Sweet Fur leaped on him. She hit his side hard, and it looked quite painful, she hid her pain well though, and moved back again. The buck was obviously furious and in pain, his eyes were filled with fear and anger. I sprang up at the buck's neck, as he watched Sweet Fur leap back. I hoped I would land in the right spot, and I landed just close enough to get his throat. I bit down, and the buck reared up. I held my grasp as tight as I could, but a flailing hoof landed in my gut, right under my ribs. I let go, and fell backward, the wind was knocked out of me, but I couldn't look like a wimp. I took a deep breath, and it hurt. I exhaled, and that hurt too, but I rolled onto my paws. I couldn't let Sweet Fur see my pain, so I leaped back at the buck, snapping at the leg that had kicked me. He was bleeding from the bite I had landed before he kicked me, and also from the one that Sweet Fur had given him as well. I could see he was getting weaker by the second, and it wouldn't be much longer before we had him down.

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