Better the Devil You Know [PRP with K.A.T]
Posted: 28-04-2012 17:34
Outside the hollow where the female was sheltering, it was pitch black. The moon was barely visibly through the cloud cover, and the air was thick and damp with the threat of rain. It would be a rough night, she was sure of it, but all the more reason for her to move now. No one in their right mind would be out with a storm looming overhead and no moon or starlight to guide their way.
Alondra sat up in the cramped space she'd fixed up as a temporary shelter. A large tree, which had fallen and been hollowed out by other creatures and decay, had kept her hidden during the day. Now she would be on the move again, in search of prey, better shelter...anything.
Her stomach rumbled, the noise echoing around the hollowed-out log, and she groaned exasperatedly. The last thing she'd eaten had been a hare, and that had been two days ago. It hadn't satisfied her at all, and now her belly was making her pay for not seeking out food sooner. But she couldn't hunt - she didn't have enough skill or strength for the job - and all the carcasses she'd come across so far had been stripped down to the bones by other scavengers.
That was what she was now. A lowly scavenger.
Her lip curled in disgust as she left the hollowed tree, her nose in the air, scenting to make sure no one was about. Once she was certain the coast was clear she padded out into the night, her dark fur camouflaging her well. She should have stayed with the pack. She should have stayed and ensured her brother was safe. Both of them were safe, warm and well fed with those vile wolves, even if their Alpha had taken to beating the two siblings around unnecessarily each and every day.
Her nose twitched as she smelled food - a fresh kill, no doubt. She followed the scent across the plain, careful to stick to the shadows and remain unseen. Spotting the half-eaten kill, she hesitated, made sure no one was around, then ran out.
She sighed in relief her as she sank her teeth into the flesh of the deer. It was a small youngster, but even that would have been enough to satisfy one or two wolves. No doubt the owners had eaten all they could and left the remains to the carrion feeders - the crows, the coyotes, and the wolves incapable of providing for themselves.
Her ears remained perked as she ate, her eyes darting around nervously, searching the darkness for any sign of movement. She didn't want any trouble. If the owner returned and wanted her off their meal she would gladly (and swiftly) leave with her tail tucked firmly between her legs.
"There's nobody there," she told herself as she looked up from eating, licking the blood from around her lips. The more she told herself she was safe, the more she believed it, though that didn't mean to say she was about to let her guard down any time soon.
Once the carcass had been reduced to a pile of inedible bones, she left. She trotted briskly across the plains, always sticking to the cover of shadows and trees. She glanced up at the sky overhead at the sound of thunder rumbling ominously, and shivered as the first raindrops began to soak her fur. Soon the rain was falling in heavy sheets, drenching her.
The foul weather was welcome though. It provided extra safety. No one would be able to see her in these conditions, with luck, and her scent would be washed away by the quickly falling rain. Her pace quickened to a lope, confident in herself as she covered ground quickly. She'd head towards the forest where there was bound to be better shelter, and no doubt a multitude of small animals that could serve as potential prey. She'd eat anything she was so hungry. A rabbit, a squirrel, a boar, a fox - anything at all.
As she approached the treeline she padded along its edge, not yet venturing deeper into the woodland. The rain felt nice, refreshing, despite it being cold and - obviously - wet. Her fur was plastered to her thin figure, and as she sat down she shook the excess water off, smiling contently to herself.
She'd be safe amongst the saplings at the edge of the woods, she was sure. She remained alert for any sign of movement as she watched the clouds rolling overhead. They stretched for miles in every direction, covering the whole of the plains as they continued to drench the land in rain. There was something comforting about their size, as if with them being so large and thundering no one would be able to find and harm her.
Alondra was surprised at the sense of euphoria that washed over her. She hadn't felt this secure in a while. It wouldn't last though, she was sure. The second the rain cleared and daylight broke through the dark clouds, she'd be running to hide again.
Why? She didn't know. She'd just got it programmed into her head that the night was ALWAYS safer than the day...
Alondra sat up in the cramped space she'd fixed up as a temporary shelter. A large tree, which had fallen and been hollowed out by other creatures and decay, had kept her hidden during the day. Now she would be on the move again, in search of prey, better shelter...anything.
Her stomach rumbled, the noise echoing around the hollowed-out log, and she groaned exasperatedly. The last thing she'd eaten had been a hare, and that had been two days ago. It hadn't satisfied her at all, and now her belly was making her pay for not seeking out food sooner. But she couldn't hunt - she didn't have enough skill or strength for the job - and all the carcasses she'd come across so far had been stripped down to the bones by other scavengers.
That was what she was now. A lowly scavenger.
Her lip curled in disgust as she left the hollowed tree, her nose in the air, scenting to make sure no one was about. Once she was certain the coast was clear she padded out into the night, her dark fur camouflaging her well. She should have stayed with the pack. She should have stayed and ensured her brother was safe. Both of them were safe, warm and well fed with those vile wolves, even if their Alpha had taken to beating the two siblings around unnecessarily each and every day.
Her nose twitched as she smelled food - a fresh kill, no doubt. She followed the scent across the plain, careful to stick to the shadows and remain unseen. Spotting the half-eaten kill, she hesitated, made sure no one was around, then ran out.
She sighed in relief her as she sank her teeth into the flesh of the deer. It was a small youngster, but even that would have been enough to satisfy one or two wolves. No doubt the owners had eaten all they could and left the remains to the carrion feeders - the crows, the coyotes, and the wolves incapable of providing for themselves.
Her ears remained perked as she ate, her eyes darting around nervously, searching the darkness for any sign of movement. She didn't want any trouble. If the owner returned and wanted her off their meal she would gladly (and swiftly) leave with her tail tucked firmly between her legs.
"There's nobody there," she told herself as she looked up from eating, licking the blood from around her lips. The more she told herself she was safe, the more she believed it, though that didn't mean to say she was about to let her guard down any time soon.
Once the carcass had been reduced to a pile of inedible bones, she left. She trotted briskly across the plains, always sticking to the cover of shadows and trees. She glanced up at the sky overhead at the sound of thunder rumbling ominously, and shivered as the first raindrops began to soak her fur. Soon the rain was falling in heavy sheets, drenching her.
The foul weather was welcome though. It provided extra safety. No one would be able to see her in these conditions, with luck, and her scent would be washed away by the quickly falling rain. Her pace quickened to a lope, confident in herself as she covered ground quickly. She'd head towards the forest where there was bound to be better shelter, and no doubt a multitude of small animals that could serve as potential prey. She'd eat anything she was so hungry. A rabbit, a squirrel, a boar, a fox - anything at all.
As she approached the treeline she padded along its edge, not yet venturing deeper into the woodland. The rain felt nice, refreshing, despite it being cold and - obviously - wet. Her fur was plastered to her thin figure, and as she sat down she shook the excess water off, smiling contently to herself.
She'd be safe amongst the saplings at the edge of the woods, she was sure. She remained alert for any sign of movement as she watched the clouds rolling overhead. They stretched for miles in every direction, covering the whole of the plains as they continued to drench the land in rain. There was something comforting about their size, as if with them being so large and thundering no one would be able to find and harm her.
Alondra was surprised at the sense of euphoria that washed over her. She hadn't felt this secure in a while. It wouldn't last though, she was sure. The second the rain cleared and daylight broke through the dark clouds, she'd be running to hide again.
Why? She didn't know. She'd just got it programmed into her head that the night was ALWAYS safer than the day...