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 Posted: Sun Dec 28, 2008 6:54 pm
 “Creek, this is not funny.”
Oh, but it was. After being “confined” to Liana’s territory for so long now that Dash had taken her spot on the Keeper’s shoulders, the small mus had pleaded her master to take her instead on her latest business trip. Her promise to behave was long forgotten and the critter was now sneaking through the naked tree branches, slowly descending all the way to the ground.
With a cunning twist of her flickering whiskers she scurried along a small stream until she recognized a particular spot, ignoring the calls from Liana without noticing how faint they’d become. Catching a fat squirrel stashing some nuts on a low branch, she’d marked this spot on the way to the client without saying a word and when they were flying back home, she made sure they took a break near the stream. Finding the food was almost as gratifying as making Liana fly around in circles looking for her and the food just might appease an angry master.
Lifting her small body to an upright position, the mus eyed a particular tree with interest (it was one of the few that had kept its leafy coat) before carefully climbing to low branch, quickly discovering the secrete stash. With a small cheerful screech, she sniffed the air for the furry owner but found herself (apparently) alone. Success!
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Posted: Sun Dec 28, 2008 7:25 pm
Garth so much preferred the more southern area of the Forrest when he decided his hunting expeditions needed to go beyond a day's reach of his home. It was so much warmer, not to mention a little more active than the deep woods in the respect of prey during this season. It was more than an ample reason for a Hunter to get away for a little while. The catches had been coming in steady enough since early twilight, and he had the kills stored in the gatherer's pack he had borrowed from his mother. It was a little small for him, to be sure, but he wouldn't have to bare the burden until it was time to head home. For now it rested beside him on his chosen perch.
Tucked close to the dark bark of the trunk, Garth was not a readily noticeable feature of the tree. Its sparse works of leaves also helped to obscure his still form without hindering his own view. Only his vivid orange eyes worked, taking in the works below. He spied the small movements of what he assumed to be a small mouse on the Ground, but he did not so much as twitch. He had been taught to be patient above all things in his training. These things were all about timing, especially since he was strong but not particularly swift due to his size. He couldn't just hope to dive at a mouse and hope to get it no matter whether or not he was noticed. So he waited.
It climbed a nearby tree, and Garth could see small twitches through the leaves. He waited. Sooner or later he was planning to indulge in a snack.
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Posted: Sun Dec 28, 2008 11:06 pm
Creek moved inside the small hollow blissfully unaware she’d been watched just a few moments ago. She climbed back into the branch, munching on a hazelnut as her tiny ears perked up while she tried to locate her master. Liana’s calls though strong enough to be heard by a sentinel even if just barely, were now too faint to reach the small companion’s ears while she chewed - rather loudly – on the stolen goods.
For a brief moment, Creek seemed understand how dangerous the forest truly was for a lonesome companion and she hid in the hollow. However, it wasn’t long before she reemerged with two large bulges inside her mouth and a couple of nuts on her paws. She eyed her surroundings with more curiosity than fear and stood perfectly still as she waited for her master’s call. Liana wouldn’t leave without her… would she?
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Posted: Mon Dec 29, 2008 5:44 pm
It seemed as if it would be remaining on the limb. Unconsciously, his ear tufts raised a little. Somewhere farther off, someone was making a good deal of noise, enough that he could hear it faintly. He didn't connect the two together.
Unfolding his wings just slightly, he leaned forward and allowed himself to drop. The force and gentle updraft spread them the rest of the way, and Garth was circling around the tree from higher up. Even if the mus did spot him, it looked as if he were simply flying past overhead. But in reality he was rounding the trunk without a single stroke of his wings. He curled them ever so slightly, slowing himself down as well as allowing him to drop a little once he was around back of the tree at some distance.
A slow circle and he stretched his talons forward, his eyes homing in on the target while he descended at a steady, but much faster rate. The idea was silence, passing through the branches closer to the trunk so as not to disturb any leaves. He came at Creek from a diagonal motion, from her back. Even if she saw him, perhaps he may stop her from getting back into the hollow. Closer and closer now, his talons poised to snatch her up from her post just as soon as they were within distance.
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Posted: Tue Dec 30, 2008 8:19 am
Creek’s survival instincts were – for lack of a better word – somewhat dulled by the constant surveillance of her master and the relative safety of the Keeper’s territory. She did notice a small moving shadow on the ground but paid no attention to it as she was still trying to get a glimpse of Liana’s shape. Slowly the wheels turned inside the companion’s head and Creek turned her little head in all directions. She did catch a glimpse of the Hunter but by the small grin that curved under her muzzle, it was clear she had assumed the approaching shape to be her master, sneakily coming from behind to scare her.
She realized her mistake just before she was snatched up by the dark shape. The two-taloned creature was not Liana! Spitting out the nuts from her tiny muzzle with a terrified expression, the small mus screeched her lungs out.
“No, no-no-no-no-no! Compa-nion, compa-nion!”
-----
Liana ‘s eartufts perked up and the female straightened up on the branch. She could swear she’d heard something.
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Posted: Tue Dec 30, 2008 4:28 pm
Garth considered the size of his catch as he pumped his wings and once again began to sail to higher branches. So small, so fragile... His talons wrapped snuggly about the 'mouse' as it lost its prizes to the below, as if considering whether or not to snap the body right then and there. His ear tufts perked, however, as he soon realized that the screams of his prey were actually making some sense.
Companion?
The Hunter lighted upon the perch he had left behind, using his one free foot and outstretched wings for balance. He lifted Creek before him (but not close enough that his face was in reach) for further inspection, turning her this way and that until he spotted it. There was indeed a mark upon her shoulder that was not natural. The shadow gave a grunt of ascent, his disappointment unexpressed as he now gently set the Mus down upon the branch. His talons stayed looped around her, however, just to keep her in place
A beckoning hoot was issued to the surrounding forest.
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Posted: Tue Dec 30, 2008 7:46 pm
Being held so close to the dark sentinel whose stance she found as menacing as his fiery gaze, made the tiny creature’s heart pound in a continuous beat, hyperventilating until she was dropped on the branch. Creek was still shaking a little when she finally lifted her eyes to meet the shadow’s. Visibly intimidated, she tried to free herself from the talon’s grip, an attempt that ended most unsuccessfully. She wasn’t one to force her way out of a difficult situation –not that it would work in this case anyway - so she did what usually worked with Liana when she didn’t get her way. Tilting her head gently to side with her ears dropping to her light colored body, she lifted her muzzle to the shadow sentinel.
“Male sentinel,” The companion said softly, addressing Garth by his gender when she noticed the single row of rest marks while she pushed his talon from her body ever so gently. “Peh-lease?” The word lingered in her mouth as she tried to talk her way out of the vulnerable position. Normally, she’d have a cheekier response at the ready but the imposing shadow certainly didn’t look like a pushover.
-----
The aberrant Keeper’s eartufts twitched as the hoot reached her. For a moment, Liana was hesitant to reply for the simple reason that it didn’t really cross her mind that the call had anything to do with her misplaced companion. But Creek wasn’t answering her and there was a slight chance that whoever had called might have seen the sneaky critter. Her heart was pounding now as she wondered if she’d ever see that valuable (and yes, sometimes lovable) silly mus ever again. She dropped from the branch, silently considering all the possible (and deadly) things that could’ve happened to Creek with growing worry aching inside her and hooted a booming reply designed not only to reach the nearby sentinel but maybe the wayward companion as well.
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Posted: Sat Jan 10, 2009 11:47 am
"Stay still." He commanded the rodent, unmoved even if his talons were loose enough to be moved slightly. If this was someone's companion he didn't need it running off again for some other thing to come along and eat it. And if it was in trouble, it didn't need to escape either.
He hooted again to the female, then sighed to himself. Soon enough he could catch some glimpse of Liana's form flitting through the trees. His talons wrapped themselves around the mus to merely grip, and he made to hoist the body up to where it could be seen.
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Posted: Sat Jan 10, 2009 5:32 pm
Creek made herself limp, obviously shocked at how her words had showed no effect on the dark Sentinel. Her whiskers flicked nervously and they were just one of the many exterior signs of her worry.
Liana followed the sound until she caught sight of the dark sentinel’s shape on a tree branch. As he lifted his talon, she could clearly see the small companion hanging limply from it.
Oh, no, no, no…
She swerved to the right, aligning her body with the branch and increased her speed until her talons lifted and the aberrant landed heavily a good distance from Garth. She remained silent for a few seconds looking distraught.
“Did you… is she dead?” she started quietly before the mus’ ears reacted to the sound of her voice and the companion lifted her head to greet her. The Keeper raised her voice looking thoroughly relieved. “Creek! You fool of a mus! Get you furry butt here this instance. Come.” The mus looked up tentatively as if asking for her captor’s permission before trying to nudge her way out of his talon. The Keeper’s eyes were also on Garth now and she looked as if she was having a hard time finding the right words to express her gratitude.
“Thank you. She might not look like it, but that’s one of my most valuable mus.” And as if suddenly realizing she hadn’t made much sense, the Keeper added. “I’m a Keeper, you see. Liana, at your service.”
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