captainryan | (no subject)

Current Mood: hungry

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It’s that time of month again, when the full swollen moon rides the sky for three nights in a row. It would not be wrong to say Ryan’s well used to it by now. By the time the light has fallen and darkness spread throughout the forest, a bipedal wolf goes with it.

The hunt has only just begun.

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Kitty's still human, she likes to watch the moon rise with human eyes on those nights that she's not compelled to change along with the light. Her clothing has already been folded into a den far away from the territory scents of the other wolves she smelled on her walk with Elizabeth.

She's not making any attempt to hide herself, however.

He sniffs at the wind, not bothering to keep a light growl from escaping when he catches her scent.

He hasn't had the best of experiences when meeting other wolves.

He lopes towards her location.

She's changing when he gets there, in a smooth flow that looks less like things shifting than like watching something through rippling water.

A tan and black pattern appears on her skin, looking airbrushed, and then Wolf is there and Kitty isn't.

Notably, Ryan is around seven feet taller than Kitty right now. She's exactly the same weight, and has four feet instead of two.

She's also doing the canine equivalent of o.O before rolling over and making submissive noises. She thought she was out of the way! Really! She wasn't even going to hunt, just stretch her legs!

It's the new wolf, the one who has no dominance about her. He recalls that much. It's enough to still his growl and settle his hackles.

He's still showing teeth, though, as he stands over her, sniffing.

Not a threat, not a threat, not a threat. She wags, slowly, when he stops growling, but doesn't get up yet. She hasn't been told, you see.

He knows.

Finally, he looks away, hiding his teeth, and steps back before crouching down with ears pricked forward.

He agrees she's not a threat. He's still curious, though.

She rolls to her feet at that and wags again slowly. Her ears are perked, she's not trying to look at him directly, and after a moment she asks, Is it alright that I run here? I can find a different place if you want me to.

She asked. That earns her brownie points.

You can, he agrees, failing to specify which he means. Are you hunting?

I was just going to run. Kitty assures him, I don't need to until tomorrow.

One ear flicks back a moment.

I will be here.

I can hunt in the mountains, or on the other side of the lake. Kitty says, still giving off the submissive vibe, I just need a rabbit.

They taste like petrol, he snorts. The deer are better.

I'm too small to eat a deer. Kitty says quietly, tail sagging at the knowledge that she's alone now. The pack would take down a deer, yes, but one wolf?

It would be suicide.

You are small, he agrees, a bit amused.

It's easier with two.

At least, it is when both know what they're doing. There's a reason Damocles is back at the den.

This is my first month without a pack. Kitty admits.

She's got to learn to hunt alone. Even when chasing rabbits she's always had TJ before.

I remember.

The palest rabbits breathe fire, he offers. Not that red is exactly pale, but you do the best you can when all you see is greyscale.

Watch your nose.

Kitty's ears flatten for a moment in shock, then she offers an assenting noise. I will remember. Thank you.

He smiles a bit at her reaction. Mun might even get around to taking a screencap of it someday.

Not at all.

Kitty wags at him again, then glances at the forest before side-long back at him. She'd really like to run, if it's alright? Where should I run to not bother you?

I'm headed this way, he indicates with a jerk of his muzzle as he stands.

He wouldn't mind bumping into her again, as long as it doesn't interrupt his hunt.

Kitty dips her head in acknowledgment, then asks, Do you want me to herd something to you? I can help with that.

He did mention that it's easier with two.

He head tilts at her. (Some things are constant in both forms.)

Yes, he says at last, pleased.

It's good. It's not being in a pack, but it's not being totally alone and it's being helpful, and it's good. Thank you. she says with more wagging.

Ryan has no tail. But if he did, it'd be wagging. Likewise.

She's entitled to some of whatever he gets for this. He'll leave some behind for her if she doesn't come to claim it while he's eating.

Kitty is used to only getting skins to lick and bones to gnaw. Being the omega wolf really, really sucks.

She is good, however, at finding prey and driving it toward him. She's got years of experience at being the one who has to take the dangerous position at the hooves of the maddened animal.

Ryan's had prey scared towards him only once before, but it's a treat to not have to go looking for a meal.

He hears the deer before he sees it and crouches impatiently for it to close with him. He bursts from his cover a moment too soon and it has a chance to veer from him. He pounces, smashing into its side with his full weight and sending it sprawling.

It's still scrambling to its feet when he hits it again, this time making it count.

For this part Kitty stays out of the way. Killing isn't her prerogative, only watching and waiting. She wags when he kills it, and prances with pleasure.

He's ignoring her for the most part, happily focused on getting at the liver.

Omnomnomnom.

Kitty lays down, chin on her paws, watching him without staring. She's happy. She ran, and was part of a hunt, and she's happy.

He doesn't rush, and he keeps one ear perked in her direction. There's enough room if she wants to move in now. Or she can wait.

It makes little difference to him.

She hasn't been told it's alright. She needs to be told it's alright before she'd even consider it. That's the way things are, at home.

Back there.

Wolf knows. Kitty, as Wolf, knows. He has to say, or she won't touch it. Even if he walks away.

He won't think of it. Not until he's had his fill and ripped off a good sized piece for the pup. He stands, shaking himself and licking one hand clean.

The rest is your's, for your help.

Kitty's ears perk up again, Really? she asks, standing up and taking a small step toward the meat, Thank you!

There's that wolf smile again.

Not at all.

If he hadn't given it to her, he would have carted what was left back to his den to snack on the next day. This means he loses tomorrow's meal, but, well, that's what the squirrel traps are for, no?

Kitty thumps her tail several more times and takes an incredibly grateful mouth of meat. She never has had a full bite of meat before.

Ryan finishes cleaning his claws before loping off towards his den. This was nice.

Now if only all the other wolves could be just as submissive.

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