Dogs of a Feather (Nex, Aello)

[Aello]

Aello smiled, "then we shall go that way," she said, her eyes lighting up pleasantly as she looked at Alenias, "come along, and try to make as little noise as you possibly can. You wouldn't want to scare the rabbit away. Or anything else we may find out here," Aello finished, before she began to walk in the direction Alenias had indicated. As she did so, she lifted her feet as high as she could, so that they would not drag along the ground, and draw lines in the mud. She was also careful not to step on anything that may make a noise, and alert animals to her presence, namely small sticks and twigs that had fallen from the trees. As she walked, Aello's eyes darted back and forth along the forest floor, looking for where the rabbit Alenias saw may have gone. It has to be around here somewhere, right? Aello thought as she continued on her way, hoping the Kelvics were not far behind her. As she walked, Aello kept her bow pointed downwards. She wanted to be sure that she didn't accidently shoot an ally if she became startled by something. It felt like a long time that she had been walking, simply listening to the sound of the birds off in the distance, her muffled footsteps, the drumming of her heart, her breath as it flowed in and out of her mouth. It was nearly unbearable, being able to find nothing, and then, she finally saw it, nestled in the middle of a clearing. Its nose twitched as its tiny mouth rolled around, a semi-masticated leaf sticking out of the corner of its lips. Well that must be Alenias' rabbit, Aello thought, as she slowly raised her bow. The three middle fingers of her right hand, which had been wrapped around the nocked arrow the entire time began to inch the bowstring back, past her smile, and then past her right ear. She closed her left eye as her fingers dug into the string. It was making them all bright red. Just aim down the arrow and let go. You can't miss Aello, that rabbit isn't moving anything other than its mouth, the young spiritist's mind whispered, as she watched its muscles ripple beneath its short, dark brown fur. She felt as though it had spotted her, after all, she was only standing behind a short bush. Its beady black eyes seemed to settle on her. You should let go of the bowstring now, Aello thought, even though she knew she was aiming way too high, and would never hit the rabbit. Her breath had caught in her throat, and the arrow was tapping lightly against the wooden frame of the bow. She was shaking like a leaf, because a rabbit was staring at her. How pathetic. Just lower the bow and let go of the string. The arrow will do the rest... Aello told herself, as she moved the bow as swiftly as she could, so that the arrow would be aimed at a place where it may actually hit something other than a nearby tree, say the rabbit. As soon as she had moved the bow, Aello let go of the bowstring. The arrow erupted off the string, sending it into a series of rapid vibrations. She could hear a low humming coming from the bow as the arrow soared through the air, towards the rabbit. As the creature noticed the arrow coming closer, it extended its neck upwards, and allowed its ears to twitch. It swallowed the leaf it had been eating, and then turned on its tail, and ran towards the left side of the clearing. A second later, Aello's arrow landed where the rabbit had once been resting. Are you kidding me? How did you miss? It was only ten feet away from you! OOCBlah post.

[Alenias]

Alenias hadn't been trying to be loud, but at Aello's instructions she nodded and quietly began to prowl along behind the woman. Carefully she placed each barefooted step on the ground so as to make as little sound as possible, avoiding anything she could that would make a noise when stepped on. She was proud that she barely made a sound, even her breathing slow and controlled so it could not be heard, but the care she was putting into moving slow meant that she was slowly falling behind Aello.

After some time Aello stopped and lifted her bow, apparently having found the rabbit, and Alenias continued to quietly move forward. She was curious about watching Aello hunt, but the woman had told her to make as little noise as she could. So Alenias continued her slow, deliberate pace forward. She finally caught sight of the rabbit just before Aello released her arrow. Watching with wide eyes Alenias was shocked when Aello missed the rabbit. Something must have been weird, maybe the rabbit could use magic?

Regardless of whatever had caused Aello to miss, something must have because there was no way Aello would miss normally, the rabbit was running away, and Alenias hurried to think of something she could do to help. She didn't know how to shoot a bow yet, or have one even. An idea struck her, and in a flash of light she transformed back to her bird form, her cloak falling to the ground, and she took to the air following after the rabbit.

"This way Aello!" she chirped back as she followed the bird, hoping she could help Aello follow it and get it with her next shot.

[Nex Paciscor]

He crawled carefully making sure his foot didn't step on any of the dead leaves that littered the area, instead choosing the more healthy green ones that didn't make such a loud crunch as he made his way towards the rabbit. From his position off to the side, it looked like Aello had things well in hand, but making sure this kill was secured he kept a little bit off to the side off it, sneaking into a bush near the waiting rabbit. He felt awkward as he did so, half dragging the left side of his body through the brush, but careful not to snap or move of the still green twigs two much, instead letting them enfold his body as he made his way deeper in the brush.

Nex could smell the rabbit more and more as he got nearer, and he even thought he could hear the things little heart beating. He was within sprinting distance of the animal, and slowly he could see the thing look up, but not at him. The introduction of so many new enemies had the creature distracted for now, and as luck would have it focused on Aello. Maybe I can get close enough to kill it myself Nex thought, as he edged slowly closer towards the rabbit. His route through the bushes had brought him directly behind it, and as Nex crawled low through a dense bush, his head poked out slightly from it and he could see the rabbit clearly. It was a short run across the clearing for him, but he knew rabbits where fast, and if they weren’t careful it could elude them.

Out of the corner of his eye he could see Aello preparing for her shot and his muscles coiled up inside of him ready to spring on the chance that it missed. His eyes locked on the rabbit, and he immediately began formulating a plan as he watched his prey, inching out ever closer to the furry creature until he was halfway out of the bush into the clearing. Nex flexed his claws easily, knowing the added tread would bring him to his prey easier, and bent his back legs further to enhance the distance of his lunge. It no longer mattered that he couldn't use his left forepaw was inconsequential now, all that mattered was being able to compensate and not letting their meal escape.

As the arrow left her bow the world seemed to freeze, Nex springing into the air to the right of the rabbit as the arrow hurtled towards the animal. When the rabbit moved to the left, time seemed to start back up again, and his decent through the air was no longer slow motion, and he found the ground suddenly rushing up at him as the rabbit sprinted left. Cursing silently in his mind that he guessed wrong, he began to set his feet pointing towards the left so when he landed he could spring towards the rabbit.

When his feet touched down on the soil, he was up in the air again springing straight for the rabbit that had darted to the side in a bush. If the rabbit decided to cut to one of the sides his straight forward attack would miss, but if it did keep a straight path his jaws would close over the rabbit, and upon securing his prize he would walk back over to Aello with the trophy in mouth. If the rabbit decided to dart to the right he would be in a position to snap at the passing rabbit, possibly snagging its leg in his teeth so he could finish it off. If it moved to the left however, he would miss completely and worse yet, be in no position to follow it easy and catch up to it.

[Aello]

Aello simply watched as Nex darted out of the woods, and towards the fleeing rabbit. "Get it Nex!" Aello called, as she stepped forward as swiftly as she could, and retrieved her arrow from the ground. Before straightening herself out, and lacing the arrow back onto the bow. A second later, the three middle fingers of her right hand were hugging the area around the nock, and she was inching the string back once more. "Or even you Alenias, wherever you are," Aello whispered, as she closed her left eye, and lifted the bow, trying to sight down the arrow, so that this time, she could adjust her aim in such a way that she would actually hit the rabbit. But there are too many petching trees, Aello thought, grouped far too tightly together for anyone to ever hit anything through them. It is far more likely an arrow would be lodged in one of them than the flesh of that rabbit. Aello growled as she took another step forward, lifting her bow a little higher as she went. There simply isn't a clear shot at it. And with Nex chasing it... you could even hit him, and simply make his recovery process longer; far more painful. There was a slight pause. It is simply too dangerous for you to shoot, you are sitting this one out, Aello told herself as she began to lower her bow back down towards the ground. "Hopefully they can catch it," Aello whispered, as the rabbit's aura came into view. It was a deep red, an outline of the creature past some of the trees. Sheer survival instincts setting in, Aello told herself, as the outline of the black wolf's came into view as well. His was a clear gold, inspiration? He is enjoying the chase, pushing past the pain as he draws closer to it? Aello wondered, as both auras faded. The creatures were both too far away from her to continue watching. The Kelvics will catch it, Aello told herself, as her eyes began to grow heavy, and her heart began to beat even faster than before, when the thrill of the chase had overcome her; when the rabbit had stared her down. She stood, awkwardly in the clearing for a moment, before pulling the arrow off the bowstring, and placing it back in the quiver. She felt so very drained, even though she had not yet gone very far... OOCSorry for the cop out... but um... yeah I thought you'd appreciate her not accidently shooting you... slash getting credit for the kill? Yay Kelvic bonding time?

[Alenias]

Flying amidst the trunks and branches of the trees Alenias watched from above as Aello moved and Nex tried to jump on the rabbit. Maybe it was some kind of magical rabbit, because he missed it too. Circling around Alenias sang out to Aello again, "This way Aello! I'll follow it!"

Alenias continued to flutter and circle above the rabbit, glancing back and seeing Aello looking tired, and then watched as Nex missed the rabbit again. The rabbit was going to get away! Trying to think of something to do Alenias dove down, getting a little ahead of the rabbit, and then transformed back to her human form in a flash of light and landed in front of the dashing rabbit, "Rah!" Alenias yelled, arms up and out to try and appear as intimidating as she could.

It seemed enough to frighten the rabbit, as it turned and dashed back in the direction of Nex again, "Get it Nex!" Alenias called out, smiling at the excitement of what they were doing.

This was much better than the last time her and Aello had gone hunting. Maybe it was good that Nex was with them. That did make sense, after all, Aello was smart and probably had known that already.

[Nex Paciscor]

As Nex fell through the air he was surprised to see the rabbit sprint left and he had to turn a bit to the side to avoid eating a mouthful of grass and dirt and ended up landing on his right shoulder and using his momentum to carry himself over and roll back onto his feet. A flurry of grass came up in his wake and he quickly shook his head to get his bearings while he looked around for the rabbit. Now where did that little rabbit run off to? he wondered as he turned a complete circle scanning the whole wood quickly.

The caw of a blue jay not far off and hoping that it was Alenias he sprinted towards where the bird was flying over. He smiled as he caught sight of the rabbit and was glad to have the help of such a cunning bird on this hunt. She surprised him yet again when she turned into her human form and used the startling change to scare the rabbit. Well played he mused and would he have been in his human form he would have smiled. Now to his ultimate satisfaction the rabbit was heading towards him, and would be a easy catch. Maybe there was something to team work after all and he rather liked how all of this was going.

The rabbit, so frightened by Alenias was heading straight for him having forgot that he was not so far behind, and by the time it saw him it was too lat to dodge as Nex lunged forward and his neck snapped out, his jaws open wide and clamping down on the surprised rabbit before he could get away. A sense of victory filled him as his teeth sank into the rabbit's soft flesh and the taste of the rabbits blood filled his mouth. Now we have dinner he cheered happily and immediately started loping off across the clearing to find Aello and present her his catch.

[Aello]

Aello waited in the clearing for Alenias and Nex. She could not help but wonder how they were doing; if the rabbit had gotten away or if they had managed to finish it off. As she waited, she tapped her foot against the ground lightly, it felt like so long since she had seen them. Her stomach growled, and inwardly she groaned. Maybe your hunger is simply making it seem as though they are taking forever. Maybe they have not been gone for so long after all, Aello thought, as she glanced up at the sky, and peered through the trees. The sun seemed to be in a similar place, and she knew then, that they could not have been gone for more than a few minutes. But it feels like it has been so very long, she thought, as she tilted her head back down, and began to stare through the trees. But all she could see was row upon row of large brown trunks, and slender branches that made their way up to pale green leaves... "Well, if they're not back soon, one could always go looking for them," Aello whispered, as her eyes darted back and forth across the clearing, wondering if they may re-enter from a different point than where they had departed from. Aello found nothing though, until several moments later, when she heard a rustling sound coming from behind her; like the stems of plants being forced to make way for some sort of creature. She thought she saw a patch of black fur, and could not help but feel overjoyed. "Nex?" she whispered, as his form came into view, and the rabbit he had caught. The dark brown fur now matted with both the rabbit's blood, and the wolf's saliva. You know, that poor rabbit does not look quite as appetizing when it is dangling from the wolf's jaws, Aello thought, as she did her best not to let her loss of appetite show on her facial features. "Well it looks like you caught yourself some dinner," Aello said, a small smile crossing her lips. "You should enjoy it," she added, as she waited for Alenias to come into view. Surely she could not be far behind. OOCNex, if you are not ok with what I wrote, for whatever reason, feel free to pm me and I can edit. Um... maybe we should start wrapping it up now? I don't know if you two wanted to post again.

[Alenias]

Not long after Nex emerged from the bushes Alenias followed, a wide smile on her face at having helped with the hunt, and trotted past the two of them and back to pick up her cloak where it had fallen on the ground when she changed. Taking a moment to shake it out, releasing a small cloud of dirt and other forest debris, she twirled it around and put it back over her shoulders.

Still with the wide smile she returned to Aello, and running up she wrapped her arms around the woman's waist in a tight hug from behind, "We did it Aello! We got the rabbit!" she giggled happily, turning her smile to Nex, "And you were really good Nex!"

As long as Aello was happy to have Nex around, Alenias was happy to have him around.

[Verilian]

Alenias +3 Hunting +2 Intimidation +1 Stealth Lores: Hunting for Rabbits (Basic), Nex is a Kelvic, the Horrifying Possibility of Magic Wielding Rabbits, The Benefits of Teamwork Nex Paciscor +1 Observation +3 Stealth +2 Hunting +1 Brawling Lores: Bad Berries, Opening Old Wounds, Confession, Alenias is a Kelvic, Hunting for Rabbits (Basic), The Benefits of Teamwork Aello +4 Auristics +3 Stealth +2 Hunting +1 Medicine +1 Archery (Shortbow) Lores: Bird Whisperer, Nex is a Kelvic, Kelvic Whisperer, Hunting for Rabbits (Basic), Being Stared Down by a Rabbit, The Benefits of Kelvics You Question My Logic? : If you have any questions or feel I missed something, feel free to PM me. Notes: Yay for kelvic bonding!