Suspended
Quote from Adriana on October 15, 2024, 3:32 pmOccurring in conjunction with When the Mountain Replied
*** Earlier ***
"I spent too much time out here." Chapman watched the road, the fields racing by on either side of the car. "No signal..." he mumbled as he pulled out the Nokia from the dash and looked at the signal meter.
"Smith's got it under control. I'll make it back in time, if barely."
He tossed the phone back into a cup-holder and groaned, leaning his elbow against the window and rubbing his brow, his other hand holding the wheel at twelve-o-clock.
"Bianca is never going to forgive me.. I need to meet with Abravious.."
Robin would be out with Mercy by now, awaiting the full moon. He was sorry he couldn't be there. She and her son were weary of men, anyway, and who could blame them?
His mind went eighteen directions, and his face, body and heart were all heavy for it.
'When did so many humans get involved?'
For now, he had to tend to his own pack. There were too many fires to put out on his own.
His eyes went up to the moon. The speedometer read 105... the elk saw his car and jumped. He didn't see the elk.
*** Present ***
(Content Warning: Blood, animal death)
Chapman blinked his eyes open. The car smelled like smoke. There was blood on the windshield, or what was left of the windshield.... the Crown Victoria was on it's hood. He blinked again and unfastened the seat belt, falling onto the roof of the vehicle with a grunt.
The moon was up, and he was covered in fur. Animal blood. His own blood. The world was spinning. He climbed out of the smashed vehicle, and leaned on the undercarriage. Nearby, part of the bull elk rested in the field...
He needed to get away from the road. His legs were uninjured. One arm was bloody, and broken.
Reknab was closer than Middlecrest. Somehow, that did not reassure him...
He lowered himself to the earth and began slowly back in the direction he had come.
Occurring in conjunction with When the Mountain Replied
*** Earlier ***
"I spent too much time out here." Chapman watched the road, the fields racing by on either side of the car. "No signal..." he mumbled as he pulled out the Nokia from the dash and looked at the signal meter.
"Smith's got it under control. I'll make it back in time, if barely."
He tossed the phone back into a cup-holder and groaned, leaning his elbow against the window and rubbing his brow, his other hand holding the wheel at twelve-o-clock.
"Bianca is never going to forgive me.. I need to meet with Abravious.."
Robin would be out with Mercy by now, awaiting the full moon. He was sorry he couldn't be there. She and her son were weary of men, anyway, and who could blame them?
His mind went eighteen directions, and his face, body and heart were all heavy for it.
'When did so many humans get involved?'
For now, he had to tend to his own pack. There were too many fires to put out on his own.
His eyes went up to the moon. The speedometer read 105... the elk saw his car and jumped. He didn't see the elk.
*** Present ***
(Content Warning: Blood, animal death)
Chapman blinked his eyes open. The car smelled like smoke. There was blood on the windshield, or what was left of the windshield.... the Crown Victoria was on it's hood. He blinked again and unfastened the seat belt, falling onto the roof of the vehicle with a grunt.
The moon was up, and he was covered in fur. Animal blood. His own blood. The world was spinning. He climbed out of the smashed vehicle, and leaned on the undercarriage. Nearby, part of the bull elk rested in the field...
He needed to get away from the road. His legs were uninjured. One arm was bloody, and broken.
Reknab was closer than Middlecrest. Somehow, that did not reassure him...
He lowered himself to the earth and began slowly back in the direction he had come.
Quote from Adriana on October 24, 2024, 1:58 pmThe old officer needed to keep a wide girth of the town. Four legs were better than two, and he was less likely to be noticed, but he needed to operate without the use of his dominant arm for now.
Zeit's ranch had a phone that he could utilize to contact his team and wife, but the pager was lost in the wreck, and he wasn't inclined to linger.
A straight shot to the ranch had it's own risks, and so did the forest. Each had to be weighed. He kept to the fields north of the road, and kept low.
The old officer needed to keep a wide girth of the town. Four legs were better than two, and he was less likely to be noticed, but he needed to operate without the use of his dominant arm for now.
Zeit's ranch had a phone that he could utilize to contact his team and wife, but the pager was lost in the wreck, and he wasn't inclined to linger.
A straight shot to the ranch had it's own risks, and so did the forest. Each had to be weighed. He kept to the fields north of the road, and kept low.
Quote from Mae on October 26, 2024, 1:47 amThe Calagathorm werewolves weren't the only ones hunting tonight.
Sitting off the side of the road, in a beaten old truck, Harvey Bolt was listening to the howls that came off the mountain. He had his elbow hanging out the window when his eyes narrowed on the moonlit field.
"Al," he said, "Get out your gun."
The Calagathorm werewolves weren't the only ones hunting tonight.
Sitting off the side of the road, in a beaten old truck, Harvey Bolt was listening to the howls that came off the mountain. He had his elbow hanging out the window when his eyes narrowed on the moonlit field.
"Al," he said, "Get out your gun."
Quote from Adriana on October 27, 2024, 11:04 amAhead was an outcropping of trees; the old Alpha needed to stop to set his arm.
Chapman reached the trees and went in a little further, finding a thick stick along the way, and a tree with a trunk suitable enough to rest his back.
'Better early than late...' he thought to himself, removing his shirt. The arm was fractured in two places, but it would heal quickly given he could set it straight. He felt for the fractures; a careful process, but with one so well acquainted with their anatomy it did not take long to identify the points of broken bone.
With his leg to support his arm and provide leverage, Chapman grabbed hold of his arm and pushed the most prominent break back in place; an audible crack sounded with the movement. Then he began to wrap the stick to it with his shirt, and tied it off with his teeth.. then rested his back on the tree a moment longer, his silvery ears swiveling about. Something caught on the breeze and caused him to pause...
Ahead was an outcropping of trees; the old Alpha needed to stop to set his arm.
Chapman reached the trees and went in a little further, finding a thick stick along the way, and a tree with a trunk suitable enough to rest his back.
'Better early than late...' he thought to himself, removing his shirt. The arm was fractured in two places, but it would heal quickly given he could set it straight. He felt for the fractures; a careful process, but with one so well acquainted with their anatomy it did not take long to identify the points of broken bone.
With his leg to support his arm and provide leverage, Chapman grabbed hold of his arm and pushed the most prominent break back in place; an audible crack sounded with the movement. Then he began to wrap the stick to it with his shirt, and tied it off with his teeth.. then rested his back on the tree a moment longer, his silvery ears swiveling about. Something caught on the breeze and caused him to pause...
Quote from Mae on November 16, 2024, 10:09 pmAl complied to Harvey's command without a word, without a protest. His gun was never far from him, though he might drink, and talk, and laugh... Al was not a serious mind, though self-centered and indulging. What he did for Harvey, he did without hesitancy.
Harvey, meanwhile, got out of his truck and came around behind it, folding up and back a tarp from a crate. In the crate, the eyes of his faithful whippet-hound lifted and looked back at him.
"Get em, Danny." Harvey said.
The old dog stood up and was instantly keen. He opened the crate and off she went like a shot! Harvey smiled after her briefly, then grabbed his rifle off the back of the truck. Al joined him now. The two met eyes grimly.
Al complied to Harvey's command without a word, without a protest. His gun was never far from him, though he might drink, and talk, and laugh... Al was not a serious mind, though self-centered and indulging. What he did for Harvey, he did without hesitancy.
Harvey, meanwhile, got out of his truck and came around behind it, folding up and back a tarp from a crate. In the crate, the eyes of his faithful whippet-hound lifted and looked back at him.
"Get em, Danny." Harvey said.
The old dog stood up and was instantly keen. He opened the crate and off she went like a shot! Harvey smiled after her briefly, then grabbed his rifle off the back of the truck. Al joined him now. The two met eyes grimly.
Quote from Adriana on November 21, 2024, 9:52 amChapman turned his eyes out over the fields behind the treeline. His ears swiveled and his breathing was steady.
'I see...'
He fished in a pouch at his hip for a moment, still listening out behind him, but turning his eyes upward.
"Alright, Old Friend. I need another favor. See, I know You've got a warm seat at the card table, but the Missus is expecting me, and she's not one to keep waiting."
The object he withdrew held in his large, gray hands, he kept his ears trained on the field behind him...
Chapman turned his eyes out over the fields behind the treeline. His ears swiveled and his breathing was steady.
'I see...'
He fished in a pouch at his hip for a moment, still listening out behind him, but turning his eyes upward.
"Alright, Old Friend. I need another favor. See, I know You've got a warm seat at the card table, but the Missus is expecting me, and she's not one to keep waiting."
The object he withdrew held in his large, gray hands, he kept his ears trained on the field behind him...
Quote from Mae on December 5, 2024, 1:44 amHarvey Bolt had played the hand of fate before, for many many undeserving souls. Was the hunt always fair? No. Did always Providence dictate the course? Or, rather, could divine plans be intercepted bg intent, with every design accounted for in the grand panorama of the mortal experience? Simply said, is everything that is meant to be truly come to pass, or are there things which choice and determination change for everyone?
Harvey Bolt followed his dog at some distance, listening to her move through the field and stand... a gun in his hand, and the moon overhead.
Harvey Bolt had played the hand of fate before, for many many undeserving souls. Was the hunt always fair? No. Did always Providence dictate the course? Or, rather, could divine plans be intercepted bg intent, with every design accounted for in the grand panorama of the mortal experience? Simply said, is everything that is meant to be truly come to pass, or are there things which choice and determination change for everyone?
Harvey Bolt followed his dog at some distance, listening to her move through the field and stand... a gun in his hand, and the moon overhead.
Quote from Adriana on December 14, 2024, 3:37 pmThe old officer was tired.
In spite of his prayer, he was resigned, whatever fate may come.
If he was going to go out, it wouldn't be without a fight. He considered all of the outcomes gingerly. With a lame, broken arm, he could try to outrun a bullet. He could try.
Up on the mountains, he could still hear the occasional wolf song. The most recent, a declaration of defense.
With a grunt, he stood up on his hocks and lifted his head; from the depths of his belly, he called out in a song as elegant as it was sorrowful, and as powerful as it was smooth. He warned the tenants of the mountain of the hunters, and his location; he told them not to join him, but to be guarded. There was a goodbye in that song, and a message for his granddaughter. It was not an optimistic song, or entirely despairing.
When he finished, he turned his eyes to the fields behind him, and the rest of his torso. He kept the object held tight in his large, furry hand...
The old officer was tired.
In spite of his prayer, he was resigned, whatever fate may come.
If he was going to go out, it wouldn't be without a fight. He considered all of the outcomes gingerly. With a lame, broken arm, he could try to outrun a bullet. He could try.
Up on the mountains, he could still hear the occasional wolf song. The most recent, a declaration of defense.
With a grunt, he stood up on his hocks and lifted his head; from the depths of his belly, he called out in a song as elegant as it was sorrowful, and as powerful as it was smooth. He warned the tenants of the mountain of the hunters, and his location; he told them not to join him, but to be guarded. There was a goodbye in that song, and a message for his granddaughter. It was not an optimistic song, or entirely despairing.
When he finished, he turned his eyes to the fields behind him, and the rest of his torso. He kept the object held tight in his large, furry hand...
Quote from Kaqurei on December 15, 2024, 11:19 pmEarlier..
Ulric left the confines of the porch. Levi stayed a while longer, feeling altogether uncomfortable. His pain, his fear, his discomfort. There was in all, no solace to be had, even in seeking it for himself.
There was, too, an odd sort of feeling. A warning, just on the edge of his mind, that something was wrong. He ought to keep an eye on the elder Alpha. And so Levi thought perhaps to distrust him, though he knew him by observation to be Bianca's grandfather, an officer, and by all accounts, a very good man. So what was this unsettling feeling he had about the man, that he just couldn't shake, even as he heard gravel grinding under tires, and watched his car pull out and away from Pack Lands?
But he could not deny the feeling. Rather than fade, it grew stronger when the elder Alpha was gone. And Levi was not inclined to ignore it. He was particularly keen to such. Yet, perhaps, he, like anyone else, was prone to misinterpret....
Present...
The experienced dog and hunters had an easy trail to follow to come upon Chapman. How their hearts must have raced when he cried out his mournful song, weakened, and close. So close. Perhaps in the mind's eye, they could already taste the blood in the water.
But if Chapman's Old Friend was playing cards, perhaps He had counted them.
For unlooked for by the experienced eyes of the hunters, and unscented by the experienced nostrils of the dog, there was one who'd followed his gut instincts, who had wandered, not sure what he was looking for, and who had spotted them before he smelled or heard Chapman beyond.
And when he did determine the object of the hunter's pursuit, when he did hear Chapman's song... Well, there was a choice to be made.
But was it a choice at all?
Indeed, that gut feeling reassured him, there was still a choice. And his heart already made it.
One moment old Danny boy was on the trail ahead. The next, a flash of darkness swept up from the underbrush like a sudden gust of wind into the adjacent foliage, and took the dog with it.
Earlier..
Ulric left the confines of the porch. Levi stayed a while longer, feeling altogether uncomfortable. His pain, his fear, his discomfort. There was in all, no solace to be had, even in seeking it for himself.
There was, too, an odd sort of feeling. A warning, just on the edge of his mind, that something was wrong. He ought to keep an eye on the elder Alpha. And so Levi thought perhaps to distrust him, though he knew him by observation to be Bianca's grandfather, an officer, and by all accounts, a very good man. So what was this unsettling feeling he had about the man, that he just couldn't shake, even as he heard gravel grinding under tires, and watched his car pull out and away from Pack Lands?
But he could not deny the feeling. Rather than fade, it grew stronger when the elder Alpha was gone. And Levi was not inclined to ignore it. He was particularly keen to such. Yet, perhaps, he, like anyone else, was prone to misinterpret....
Present...
The experienced dog and hunters had an easy trail to follow to come upon Chapman. How their hearts must have raced when he cried out his mournful song, weakened, and close. So close. Perhaps in the mind's eye, they could already taste the blood in the water.
But if Chapman's Old Friend was playing cards, perhaps He had counted them.
For unlooked for by the experienced eyes of the hunters, and unscented by the experienced nostrils of the dog, there was one who'd followed his gut instincts, who had wandered, not sure what he was looking for, and who had spotted them before he smelled or heard Chapman beyond.
And when he did determine the object of the hunter's pursuit, when he did hear Chapman's song... Well, there was a choice to be made.
But was it a choice at all?
Indeed, that gut feeling reassured him, there was still a choice. And his heart already made it.
One moment old Danny boy was on the trail ahead. The next, a flash of darkness swept up from the underbrush like a sudden gust of wind into the adjacent foliage, and took the dog with it.
