Title: Once, I ate a Pinecone...
Description: but it bit me...
Wild Heart - November 6, 2007 02:21 AM (GMT)
He didn't know where in the great wide world of Zanzira he was, and, quite frankly, he didn't care. All he knew was that the ground here was very shiny.
He was walking with his head downwards, and his nose nearly touching the ground. The sun was gleaming off of the ice, making it sparkle and shine and he just couldn't stand it. He wanted the sparkly stuff. He wanted all of it and he wanted it now. Rasp stopped and began to claw at the ice, digging so that his claws shaved it into white powder. He would reach what made it sparkle soon enough. Yes, he would.
It was very cold out here. The wind buffeted the small wolf's tan fur around his body. His tail was being blown to the side in the force of the strong wind, and snow, snow from somewhere, was flying across the land despite the fact there was not a single cloud in the sky.
He had found it! He didn't know what he had found, but he had found what made the ice sparkle and shine, he knew it! The Cloud wolf leaned down to pick it up with his mouth but the ground seemed to grab him. He didn't have what made the ice sparkle and shine in his mouth, and instead the ice had GRABBED him. Rasp began to whine, trying to pull his numb and frozen lips from the surface of the ice with all his might and then...
A heavy paw came down a inch in front of his nose and he let out a squeak of surprise. He ripped his lips and tongue right off of the ice and flew backwards. He landed, slidding across the ice. He tried to regain his footing but he fell, his legs sprawled out across the cold hard ice. His eyes turned towards whoever had come to stand in front of him. His numb tongue was hanging from his mouth and his lips where cut and bleeding in the many place. Good thing he couldn't feel them yet, because if he could they would really be hurting.
Silverstreak - November 6, 2007 02:33 AM (GMT)
Tone frowned at Rasp. Whoever this crazy wolf was, he was intruding on his territory. Though he couldn't defend territory well, being so old, he could snap the insanity out of Rasp with his tongue!
"What in the name of Starpack are you doing out here, you mousebrained little Cloud?!" he barked, crouching and baring his teeth in a display of dominance. The wind buffeted Tone's thick coat, making it ruffle up and down.
He started to circle Rasp. He was not friendly with other Alliances, and he wouldn't have called the intruder a mousebrain if he had been an Ice wolf. His tail was at its medium height, the most threatening and serious level. Tone was definately old, but if he had to, he'd give this crazy wolf a few bites to remember him by.
Wild Heart - November 6, 2007 02:43 AM (GMT)
Rasp didn't move for a very long time. He just watched the big wolf circle him, his legs still stretched in all different directions across the ice. His tongue was hanging out of the side of his mouth and was flopped across the top of the small wolf's muzzle in a very weird way. After a few seconds, he slurped the pink tongue back into his mouth and attempted to stand on his chocolate colored paws. He fell down again though, and he didn't try and get back up this time. Instead, the tattered and nicked ears swept to the top of his head giving him a bat-like appearance. His eyes crinkled up and disappeared as a grin brighter than the shining ice he was laying on appeared on his face.
"Hia!" He greeted, disregarding the snarl that had stretched across the other wolf's face entirely. The bright green eyes reappeared, and he said, "Can yous gives mes the shinies under da grounds here? Mesa can't find dem and I want dems!"
He dug his claws into the ice and pushed himself up, this time suceeding. The grin was still on his face, and the teathers of the black head band blew in the wind. He looked down at the ice between his paws and stared at the shining ice. If he didn't get that shiney stuff, he didn't know what he would do.
Silverstreak - November 6, 2007 02:49 AM (GMT)
Tone rolled his eyes. Rasp was even crazier than he had thought before. He stayed tense as he explained the truth about the "shinies" that the intruder wanted. A hint of a snarl was in his voice.
"Mousebrain, the ice isn't shiny because there's something under it. The sun is reflecting off the ice and making it sparkle!" he growled, bursting with anger. Rasp had intruded, and now was asking for the ice's sparkle!
Tone was getting more and more tense. One more idiotic reply, and he might go over the top...
Wild Heart - November 6, 2007 02:56 AM (GMT)
Rasp looked at the sun, and then the ice. Then at the sun, and then the ice again. How exactly did that work?
He tilted his head to the side so that the ears flickered to the left. The grin was gone, and now he looked utterly confused. He blinked his bright green eyes and then screwed them up, so he now resembled a wolf pup trying to understand the concept that snow fell in the winter and rain in the spring.
"Nos," he said, slowly. "Da ground must have the shinies!" And he leaned down and began to dig at the ice again, hard. Powder was everywhere and he was throwing ice shards just about everywhere with the force of each of his small paws. And then, he collasped, exhausted and completely out of energy. Digging at ice was hard work, and now his paws where aching with cold. He wasn't adapted for a climate this cold. His paws where not covered in fur like those of the Ice wolves, nor did he have a very thick coat to keep out the winter chill. "Tireds..." He yawned.
Silverstreak - November 6, 2007 03:07 AM (GMT)
A soft growl rose from Tone's throat. It wasn't even voluntary; his mind was automatically confused and angered by Rasp's words. And he wouldn't argue with the crazed Cloud Wolf. He was just DONE.
Tone sprung. His old, battered face was scrunched fiercely. His tail was now raised at its highest in anger as he pounced. His claws, long and unkept from the ice scraping against them, were pushed ahead of his body.
Wild Heart - November 6, 2007 02:47 PM (GMT)
Rasp let out a whine of surprise and shock. But as the teeth clamped down onto him, he seemed to explode. It was a strange sensation that Rasp had felt many times before. The unsual feeling of being stretched out to far over something, stretched out to thin. Then, suddenly, it all stopped. Rasp stood wheezing over the ice behind Tone and his brain had to catch up with what had just happened. He had done it again. Burst into one million tiny water particles.
He backed up from the angry wolf, and turned tail and ran as fast as his four small paws could propell himself across the ice.
Silverstreak - November 6, 2007 02:54 PM (GMT)
Tone watched in amazement and curiosity. It seemed that Rasp needed shelter and was getting cold. Much as he was confused by his insanity, Tone wasn't cruel enough to watch a wolf freeze. He stalked quietly after Rasp, paws and claws not making a single noise.
He hoped that the wolf would not hear him; he planned on letting Rasp think that he was alone, and when he collapsed on the ice to sleep Tone would dig a hole in the ice. Simple as that, he'd leave afterwards, not letting Rasp know that he had dug the hole.
Wild Heart - November 6, 2007 03:04 PM (GMT)
Rasp's paws slowed on the ice and he stopped. His tongue lulled from his mouth and he stood panting over the ground. Memories where rushing through his brain. The kind of memories that he tried to forget more than anything else. A large male, dark brown not white, lunging at him. The face of a female in her last moments as teeth where clamped down on his neck. He closed the bright green eyes, shaking his head back and forth widely, trying to control himself. If he had a break down now, that Alpha would surely catch him. Rasp spun around, his eyes darting around the ice as he looked for the wolf. No sign of him. Rasp gave another small whine and sat down. No body really liked him, did they? Except for...except for Mya...
His tongue reentered his mouth as he finally caught his breath. He began to walk across the ice again, this time ignoring the shining glimmer tempting him underneath it. He felt so alone sometimes, he just couldn't stand it. All he wanted was just belong somewhere...
Maybe he would wander back to the mountain again. He was getting alittle hungry, all that digging sure worked up a appetite.
Silverstreak - November 6, 2007 03:10 PM (GMT)
Tone stopped behind him, and when Rasp looked back, he was thankful for his white fur blending into the snow. As long as he stayed low, he could follow undetected.
He, like who he was following, was getting hungry. He crept off aways and quickly killed a snow lemming with one swift bite. Luckily, neither he nor the lemming had made a sound while making the kill; so far, so good.
After gulping down Tone's prey, he wondered if he should have saved it for Rasp. His face had seemed more confused and hungry than Tone was; food could have cleared that ridiculous mind of Rasp's.
Wild Heart - November 6, 2007 03:24 PM (GMT)
Rasp was done walking. Gosh, he was so hungry he could eat a elephant now. He turned his head and looked across the ice. It seemed so barren, so unsupporting of life. How did the Ice wolves stand it here.
And then he saw it. A small head, peaking up from a burrow. Long ears flicking away from him, as it hopped from the ground. A hare. A snowshoe hare. His body dropped into a hunting crouch instantly and he stalked the creature with careful pawsteps. He was so hungry he didn't even think about how the Alpha would hate him hunting on his land. He was drooling slightly now, but that didn't really matter did he. The hare had leapt from the burrow now, and was hopping around on the ice. Good thing he was downwind, or else the rabbit would have been in the burrow in a heartbeat.
And then he pounced. The rabbit squeaked with terror and ran for it. Rasp landed on the ice and then gave chase. The rabbit made a sharp turn to the left and Rasp tried but...
His hind paws came out from under neath of him. He was sliding across the ice on his side. The rabbit was slipping out of reach but he made a snap for it. Maraculously (sp?) he managed to grab one of its hindlegs in his mouth. The rabbit was sliding across the ice with him, trying desparately to free itself from his teeth. And it was kicking him in the face with it's free hindleg. Rasp's eyes where closed as it battered his face. He felt himself come to a rest and tried to stand again, but fell over to the side. The rabbit was making a whole lot of racket now, and was still slamming his face with his free hindpaw while Rasp tried to stand.
Silverstreak - November 6, 2007 04:02 PM (GMT)
Tone knew this was his chance, but Rasp was still conscious. He had to wait till he fell asleep or fainted from the cold. He stared on with a penetrating silver gaze.
A scent drifted to Tone's snout, seeming to cry "Catch me! Catch me!" but he ignored it. He might not have the luck he'd had with the lemming this time.
Wild Heart - November 7, 2007 10:39 PM (GMT)
Rasp let a snarl of rage come from his lips. He pulled himself up so that he was laying on the ice, and then placed a chocolate colored paw on the rabbit. He killed it with one swift bite to the neck.
He began to eat quickly. He probably wouldn't have another chance to eat for a while. He wasn't the best of hunters after all
He finished quickly. There was nothing left for even a scavenger to pick at after he was done with it. Rasp was now tired. He knew he should bury the bones, but saw no way to do so here, with the frozen ground. And the full belly was making his eyes betray him. Rasp yawned loudly, and curled up on the ice, burying his face and nose into his tail. Quickly he was asleep.
Silverstreak - November 7, 2007 11:35 PM (GMT)
Tone quickly took his chance. He dug quietly and efficiently; soon, a small underground cave was where frozen ice used to be. He grabbed a nearby bit of lichen and used it to make as good a nest as possible.
Tone bit out a small chunk of ice from the ground. He let it melt in his mouth for a bit, circling as he did so (As Blizzards were never still). He got another bit of ice out with his claws, and with the same claws he hollowed it out into a dish-shape. He let the water in his mouth spill into the dish. To complete it, he carefully took the bit of ice and placed it at one end of the underground den.
Tone pushed Rasp into the den, being careful not to wake him up. After he was safely in the den, he laid down with only his tailtip moving to watch. In his position, it was impossible to see him unless a wolf went behind him and saw his tailtip twitching.
Wild Heart - November 7, 2007 11:46 PM (GMT)
He stayed asleep for quite a while, but then he seemed to be dreaming. His eyes where flickering under his eyelids. He twitched, and whined in his sleep. Then he awoke with a start, letting a yell come from his throat that reverbarated in the ice cave, "KOVU!"
Rasp leapt to his feet, staring around the place wildly and backing up until his rear hit the cave wall. He jumped, spinning around as fast as he could and saw the ice in the wall. His own reflection stared back at him and he let out a loud scream beore backing up and tripping straight over the Blizzard. Rasp stayed on the ground for a very long time, letting his pulse come down some. He could not be in the forest with that crazy male again. No, there was no possible way that Kovu could be here with him right now. He was far away. He had left long ago.
Rasp turned over, for he was on his back, and stood, shakily. Now he actually took in his surroundings. His memory backtracked. He had not fallen asleep here. Who had put him here?
Silverstreak - November 10, 2007 02:06 AM (GMT)
Tone would have pressed his body closer to the ground, but that would have sent the alarm. Instead, he stopped twitching his tail and twitched his nose now that Rasp was behind him.
The old wolf certainly wanted to bark a sharp remark at Rasp for being so careless and tripping over him, but he held his tongue. Now was definately not the time to be his usual bitter self.