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 Posted: Sat Sep 20, 2008 11:35 pm
 Yawning and stretching, the snow leopard Helix stared out over the dry, heated plain, watching with sharp eyes that registered every movement of the swaying grasses before her, alert for anything unusual. She hated this time of day, when the sun was at its highest and hottest. She could tolerate this land most times...but during this time, she usually took it easy, sometimes allowing herself a nap before the sun began to descend and take it's heat with it.
She had better luck hunting at night anyway.
And yet, the day had its advantages as well. Such as being more active for other Helixes.
What better time than to seek out others? She'd spent too long alone now anyway and even she knew she needed to be more sociable. If she didn't push herself to do so...who would?
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Posted: Sat Sep 20, 2008 11:48 pm
 The heat of the midday sun wasn't bothering Giselle all too much. She was taking it easy today and not running so much. She looked across the plain noting some Gazelles grazing. Perhaps she could slip in with them and take one down..... or maybe slip in and scare one and go racing after it. Giselle was shaking in excitement at the thought of chasing down prey. She slowly approached the Gazelles dipping her head down as if she was grazing too. Nothing to see here.... just another Gazelle eating some grass. She thought to herself as she sneaked closer. She paused when one lifted it's head nervously and didn't move until it dipped it's head down again.
After sneaking for several minutes she got close enough to one. She paused gathering her strength and crouching down. She then sprang at the Gazelle scaring it. The herd broke up running away from her. A few strayed from the herd including the one she scared. The one she was after leaped and bounded and so did Giselle. She mimicked her prey so neatly that she could have been mistaken for one to. She laughed to herself having a great time.
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Posted: Sun Sep 21, 2008 12:05 am
Soyala's ear twitched as the noise alerted her to the chaos before the sight of the gazelles panicking and fleeing in all directions. She narrowed her eyes, unable to determine just what had startled them so, but at the same time, a rumble from her stomach reminded her that hungry Helixes shouldn't be picky.
No use wasting a good panic-driven stampede, right?
She rose, bounding forward into the grasses and heading for a couple of stray gazelles that were the furthest from the rest of the herd. For a moment, she almost hesitated, feeling that something wasn't quite right here...
That hesitation nearly earned her a hoof in the face from a fearful gazelle and she immediately berated herself for her distraction. That was completely unbefitting an Alpha, letting herself be distracted...and in the middle of a hunt!
The mere idea of it...
Growling softly, she readied herself for a leap, jaws wide...and froze before her teeth could clamp down...
...on a paw?
Gazelles didn't have paws.
Not the last time she had checked.
Landing awkwardly, she wondered if the sun was causing her to hallucinate as she tried to work out this new puzzle amidst the chaos of stampeding herd animals.
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Posted: Sun Sep 21, 2008 10:47 am
Giselle nearly had the gazelle when a greyish white spotted wolf appeared. This wolf held herself as if she was a leader.... an alpha. However this wolf also just tried to take a bit of her paw but stopped at the last minute. Giselle yelped and stopped running before jumping backwards. She watched as her prey bounded away and sighed. "Aw...... There it goes...... all my fun down the drain." She muttered to herself before turning to the spotted one. "....... You're not going to eat me are you?" She asked getting ready to spring away if the older wolf said yes.
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Posted: Wed Sep 24, 2008 6:12 pm
Soyala hesitated, torn between going after the fleeing prey and addressing this puzzle.
The puzzle won.
Facing the other wolf, she dropped her head, if only for a moment, in apology. "My apologies. I mistook you for one of the bounding gazelles...however, in my defense, you look much like one yourself. And move like one." She tilted her head slightly, privately amused by the deception. Even she had been fooled.
Still amused, but stifling most of it for the sake of her hunger, she shot the other wolf a look. Yes, she was joking, even if she had an odd sense of humor. "While I am hungry, I'd prefer the flesh of one of those young herd animals. You know, if we work together, I think we might still catch one. Are you in, young one?"
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Posted: Wed Sep 24, 2008 7:28 pm
Giselle chuckled as she relaxed and nodded. "That's how I was able to sneak in among them." She said smiling, "I learned how to best use my problem of looks. Sneak in among those I look like and take 'em down." She tilted her head before bowing it. "I'm most definately in........" She replied studying the other wolf before bowing her head in respect, "Just tell me what to do. I'm guessing you're a higher rank then me..... Just about everyone is."
She sighed for a second before looking after the fleeing prey. Some of the gazelles were still nearby and they could catch up to them easily.
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Posted: Wed Sep 24, 2008 7:51 pm
Soyala was pleased by the other's acknowledgment of her status. That alone earned her some points, though she was earning quite a few at this point. "You respect my rank and authority. That is all I ask. I do not believe in pushing rank...only in respecting experience and wisdom."
She glanced over towards the gazelles, eyeing those stragglers still furthest from the main body of the herd. "Simply because I am older does not make you any less knowledgeable of your own abilities. You should do as you do best. Slip in among the prey and prepare for the initial strike. I will be nearby and will join you to finish the hunt." She glanced at the younger female, the fainted hint of a smile on her muzzle. "I'll be counting on you to pick a good one."
With that, she slipped off into the grass, sneaking towards the herd animals nearby.
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Posted: Wed Sep 24, 2008 8:08 pm
Giselle looked at the older wolf confused slightly. "Of course I do. Why would I not respect another's rank and authority?" She shook her head, "Well never mind for now. Those gazelles won't wait for us to finish speaking." She grinned while nodding, an excited glint in her eyes. "I'll make sure to get a good one." With that she bounded off leaping like a gazelle.
After several minutes she began to draw closer to the stragglers. She made sure to act like the gazelles, leaping and not coming too close. She looked around those that were near before spotting a nice sized female. She was a healthy one and looked big enough to feed the two wolves. She bounded ahead of the gazelle and then pivoted. She leaped at the gazelle aiming for the throat. However the gazelle leaped to the side and swung it's head so it's antlers would hit Giselle. Giselle was knocked to the side but she jumped back up quickly with a growl. She aimed lower this time trying to break a leg.
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Posted: Sat Sep 27, 2008 4:15 pm
As soon as Giselle made her attack, Soyala broke cover, bounding from her hiding place in the nearby grass. As Giselle was thrown aside, the snow leopard Alpha snarled and tensed her muscles, releasing to soar through the air and slam into the gazelle's haunches. Her weight, alongside the powerful hit, made the prey beast stagger, but she wasn't about to be shaken so easily. Fangs and claws were put into play, latching onto whatever flesh she could catch hold off, solidifying her hold in order to keep the animal off-balance. This one wouldn't escape the two predators.
Her eyes darted to the side towards Giselle, already heading back into the fight. Good girl. If she could take out the prey's legs and get the beast onto the ground, this fight was over.
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Posted: Sat Sep 27, 2008 6:18 pm
Giselle didn't hesitate when the alpha charged in and jumped onto the gazelle. She latched onto a front leg and bit down hard. She heard a satisfying crunch as the leg broke. The gazelle began to fall due to the broken leg and the wolf on her back. Giselle helped the creature fall by slamming into it and biting the throat. After holding onto the kicking gazelle, Giselle began to feel the creature's kick weaken as it's life blood flowed out of it's neck that Giselle was holding onto.
Once the gazelle stopped kicking Giselle released it's throat and backed away. She was panting as she stared at the felled prey. "We did it." She said happily. She sat down a little ways from the dead gazelle so Soyala could eat first.
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Posted: Thu Oct 02, 2008 7:28 pm
Soyala stepped free of the fallen prey, shaking out her tense muscles with a smile. "Indeed, we did. Good work, young one." Her sharp eyes followed the other female, noting her respectful behavior in allowing the Alpha to eat first. As per tradition, Soyala returned to the fallen prey, now their meal, and took a good portion of the choicest meat for her first few bites.
Then, she turned back to the other female. "Come. While the meat is still warm." There was plenty there for both to eat their fill.
And Giselle deserved her just reward for a job well done.
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Posted: Fri Oct 03, 2008 10:33 am
Giselle looked at Soyala and smiled. "Thanks. You did a great job yourself." She said creeping forward when the alpha said so. Once she was at the gazelle she looked at Soyala before taking a bite from the inner thigh. She chewed it and took another bite. As she ate she looked around her surrounding watching the other animals in the distance.
After several more mouthfuls Giselle stepped away from the fallen prey. "Ah.... that was so good." She said cleaning her chops and then biting her front paw. Her nails were getting long again and it was bothering her. "So...... who are you?" She asked realizing that they never introduced themselves, "I'm Giselle."
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Posted: Sun Oct 12, 2008 2:27 am
"I am Soyala. It's a pleasure to meet you."
The Alpha nodded politely in greeting before returning to the laborious task of cleaning her paws and muzzle of blood. White fur could be a pain at times...as could blood if left to dry.
When her task was finished, she turned her full attention back to the other female. "Well now. I don't suppose you'd be out here hunting all by yourself, would you, young one? And if so...then you must be quite a capable hunter."
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Posted: Sun Oct 12, 2008 7:40 am
Giselle nodded with a smile. "It's nice to meet you too Soyala." She said finishing up biting her nails. She looked at the Alpha bashfully and blushed slightly. "Well..... Truthfully I am hunting by myself since I don't have a pack yet." She explained sounding slightly sad.
She took in Soyala for a minute with her head tilted. "So where is your pack? I don't see any other wolves with you."
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Posted: Sun Oct 12, 2008 7:02 pm
Soyala nodded slightly, then glanced out at the distant horizon. "To be quite honest, I'm on my own as well at the moment. I'd put more stock in learning the lay of the land and the territory before trying to settle down and develop a pack. However, there have been few other Helixes cross my path lately. Part of why I was so surprised to come across you...only part of course," she chuckled softly.
"Still, it is good to see another after so long. I trust that you've done well on your own thus far?" It wasn't an interrogation or anything...the Alpha was just curious. Truly, the other female seemed to be faring well on her own.
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