Serve High Above

On the mend, every day his sights got a bit higher. @Freya has given him a baby mountain goat around the time he got here. All the while he had been wondering how these things where actually caught. Spending a day up in the mountains high above the cave, the big cat's curiosity and mending wounds let him to make a goal: he was going to catch one of these things.

A bit underfed, the cat was lighter than usual. Actually he found it easier to navigate the rocky slopes this way. Finding a spot Kuhn laid himself down to rest and observe while enjoying the sun.

Time passed and eventually, the tiger caught site of one of these creatures, cocking his head in confusion, he watched from a distance at how easily this creature scaled the rock. How did the wolves of Northfall do this? How did anyone catch these things?

@Krakarak
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 Okay, so the tiger wasn't gifted to him. The tiger was a friend and not to be eaten. Yeah yeah, he'd have other things to eat so he guessed that was okay. He hadn't actually met the creature formally yet, just seen his bright red friend here and there. The bird didn't much care to make acquaintances. What was the point if they weren't going to feed him?

 Regardless, he flew around the territory. Poking his beak into other's business and leaving once they bored him. Then, by happenstance, he saw a flash of red. He thought it was the pretty red wolf... but no. It was the cat!

 He liked bright things. Brightly colored pretty things and instantly decided to make the newcomer's business his own.

 He winged down, landing high above the creature on a tree branch as he stared down at it.

 What pretty fur! What strange stripes! What a fuzzy mane all the better to pluck nesting materials from.

 He had to meet this fellow!

 He glided down to a lower branch, one that was easily within leaping distance of the tiger. "Hallo, stripey-cat! Krak Krak!" He hopped closer, purple eyes bright with curiosity and admiration at that coat. "What you do?" Nosy nosy as he could see the cat staring in another direction... but he was too entranced by that pretty fur.

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Up high above, that same bird that Ragnar had sent to the heavens seemed to have found him up here.  Taking his eyes off the mountain goat for a moment, the cat looked up to that low branch.  Something in the back of his mind teased at him to try and hop up to catch the bird, though he opted not to.  It would be rude and the bird would likely just flutter away.  "Hello, dark bird.", answering while looking back to where he saw the goat.  It was gone.  

"mmhm..." he growled, very mildly irritated.  Hoping down from the rock he was on, "Right now? I'm hunting.", he answered, trying to find another angle to see his prey.  Obviously he still couldn't see it, side eyeing the dark bird.  

Hopping down again to another lower level, Kuhn made a motion with his head to follow, they would have to get back on this thing's trail soon or it would be gone.
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 The tiger moved and Krakarak fluttered down to the spot that he’d previously been sitting in. His head twisted to and for, searching for any loose hairs. He did not find any. Bummer, so his attention turned back to the flame cat. He was doing something that he absolutely loved. Hunting.

 The bird clacked his beak together excitedly as he edged closer to the side of the rock to peer down at the feline. ”Krakarak can share, ya?” He asked, hopping in place with the sheer excitement before flapping into the air. He flew around the tiger in lazy wingbeats, keeping pace with him easily. ”Krakarak can help you find. Krakaw! He good Watcher! No one better! Krak Krak!” He boasted about his ability to track down prey and lead the wolves onto it. He could do that for the tiger now. ”You want Krakarak’s help?” He’d gladly fly out and scout for the man if it meant a free meal and fur.

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Picking his way down through the rocks they where getting closer. The big cat moved with a surprising amount of grace for a creature of his size. He was trying to stay a silent as possible. Though, the bird didn't seem to share his concern, talking away. "Yes... You can share if you help. Just keep your voice down...", almost scolding the bird with a hushed tone.

Instinctually, the cat used to hate sharing, though lately he had found that it was growing on him, sharing his passion for the hunt with others. He had never hunted with a bird before. Besides, how much could one raven eat.
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 How unfortunate… for the tiger, that he didn’t have wings. All these landbound creatures –no matter how pretty some of them were—would never know the beauty of flight. They’d never know how easy it could be to scale down the side of a mountain. He felt sorry for them… and superior. It was one thing they would always be envious of him over. His beautiful feathers and his beautiful flight.

 ”Krakarak being quiet!” To him, his loud squawking was quiet. He figured the tiger didn’t want to see when he was actually yelling. Or maybe he would. He knew his voice was divine.

 In any case, the stripey-cat would have to wait until later. He had a mission for goat legs! With a flap he glided away, sharp eyes peering down amongst the rocks and mountain trees. He peered here and there and –oh! Well, looky looky.

 He grinned devilishly to himself and began to circle for below him, nestled in the side of a cliff that was a partial cave, all of which was neatly hidden from view from casual onlookers by an array of trees of bushes, was the goat. He let out a few wordless caws to get the tiger’s attention. The noises were just that, noises, to the goat, as he was not the only crow raven around… but to one who was listening for his signal…

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For a moment Kuhn figured he had made a mistake by saying he could help. Listening to the bird telling him that this was his quiet, the striped beast cringed and figured his hunt was doomed.

Then with the wind the bird took off, and the world was quiet again. Not meeting many birds, the cat didn't know what to make of that interaction. So, he continued onward, moving in the direction of his best guess.

Some time later his ears pivoted around to his flank, hearing the call of a raven. Smirking to himself, he must have overshot the goat, and underestimated the bird.

Turning tail he found his new heading, creeping lower to the ground as the sound got louder. Large paws hardly made a sound as he found a small clearing, eyeing his prey grazing under a tree. Tucked down low he was ready to explode from his position, holding his head below his shoulders.
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 The striped feline had seen him and pivoted around towards the goat's little safe haven... although it wasn't so safe anymore. Once Krakarak knew that the tiger would find that spot just fine, he landed in the tree above the goat. The creature spared him a singular glance, unworried, as it went back to chewing at the grass below. Krakarak opened and closed his talons on the branch, clearly excited for what was about to come next. He knew this part well and knew that he had to pretend all was well so as not to startle the goat.

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Bursting from his cover, all the silence that the striped beast had built up was now gone, braches snapped heavy paws thundered forward. The goat only had a moment to react, instinctually springing into the air. By that point it was too late only jumping up into the cat's grasp In the midst of the air.

With large claws hooking into flesh, there was only a moment of audible protest, before the creature was slammed to the floor with the full momentum of the half ton cat. By the time Kuhn had slid to a stop, his face had already been clamped to the neck of his prey, blood and drool leaking from the corner of his black lips.

Now on his side, the details of his musculature where more obvious, tensing as he held the dieing creature in his claws and maw, the definition of his shoulders popping though his hide from the effort.
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 As the tiger burst from cover, Krakarak hovered over his branch. His wings flapped harshly and a few feathers were loosed as he croaked out encouragement to the tiger. Such gems as,

 "Ya ya! Bite its throat out! Krakaw!"

 And,

 "Ya! Make'em dead! Krak!"

 And lastly,

 "Stripey-cat and Krakarak have big feast today! Krakaw!" That last one was accompanied by vicious laughter.

 He flew down from the tree, landing nearby --but not too close-- to the goings on. He was quite the bloodthirsty little beastie. "Ya ya! Kill it kill it! Kill it good! Krak!" He hoped up and down excitedly while he waited rather impatiently for the deed to be done.

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Typically, the cat had a rather clean way of ending the prey.  There was normally no need to make more of a mess than necessary.  In this case though, the remaining thrill of the chase combined with the loud squawking only served to egg him on.  The goat was basically dead anyway, so for good show the cat thrashed his head from side to side, with a bit of a flashy growl.  

Tossing the goat from side to side, it limply followed the momentum of the large cat's wide neck.  The whole display only served to open the wounds of the animal further, sending droplets of blood and drool spattering about.  

Satisfied, Kuhn released his hold, allowing the creature to fall limp, as more diluted blood dripped from his lip. For a moment, the cat looked disappointed in himself, that was kind of not his style, but hopefully it made the bird happy. 

Licking the edge of his lip, "Uh... I guess you can start with the eyes"
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 Yes! Blood! Gore! Guts! The raven was practically beside himself with joy at the macabre display! The air was rife with the bird's excited calls. Even after the carcass had flumped limply to the earth, the bird hopped up and down with sheer delight. This tiger was the best! He didn't even think Ragnar had given him a show like that before! What an amazing guy!

 And then it got even better! The eyes!

 "Krakarak take!" He cried delightedly. He flew forward, popped one eye out and then --wanting to be part of the festivities too-- he shook it back and forth, up and down and then threw it... Only to fly over and hop on top of it, cutting and shredding it. This time when he ripped into it with his beak again, it was to tear and rip it to smithereens.

 Blood for the blood gods!

 "Look! Look, stripey-cat! Krakarak do too!" He sounded quite proud of himself as he picked up the shredded eye and began parading it around, back and forth in front of the tiger. He just wanted to be praised and noticed. Notice him, senpai.

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The squawking let the cat know his show was well appreciated. After he was finished with his little show, Kuhn pulled his head back to observe the delighted bird, pluck the eye from the goat.

Typically, the large feline's hunger would have gotten the better of him by now, but this sight was just to novel. Still laying with the goat with his muzzle now only a few inches away from the dark bird, the cat cracked a bloody smile, well entertained by the bird's own show at a mauling.

Letting out a deep rumbling chuckle, the tiger, pinned the neck of the kill to the floor before turning his attention to further opening the wound he had created. Burying his face into the neck again he twisted and wrenched as flesh cracked and snapped.

Swallowing down a shredded segment of throat, the striped beast looked up to the bird, with a muzzle dripping in crimson. "I can't believe how easy you made that... Eat your fill..."
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 He smiled! He laughed! Krakarak was over the moon that his antics were well received! To think, he'd just wanted to eat the tiger when he'd gotten here but now? No no no, he was no meal! He was one of the best creatures here at Northfall! Would he stay here forever? He hoped so!

 The raven tipped his head back and easily swallowed down the shredded eye... but he was nowhere near full. All the better for when the tiger encouraged him to eat as much as he wanted.

 Now he really wanted to keep the tiger! A compliment and an invitation to eat as much as he wanted?

 "Krakarak do for all wolfs here! Krakaw! No good hunting without him! Now Krakarak do for you too!" The bird cawed happily, hopping up and down before gliding closer to alight on the goat. "Am Krakarak! What your name, stripey-cat?" As if it wasn't already abundantly clear what his name was. He expected that the tiger's name wouldn't disappoint. All of his favorite non-raven people (all one of them) had names that he could joyously caw to strike fear into their enemies.

 Krakarak's ebony beak would dip down to rip a piece of meat from one of the shredded portions of flesh, he couldn't get into a carcass himself and always needed help from the larger predators to do so. A bit of symbiosis.

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Ears tucked against the back of his skull as he listened to the bird while he ate, opening the meal further. The tiger's ears weren't back out if anger, but rather to get some volume control. Somewhat solitary, this ammount of noise was alot for the introverted cat. This guy was loud.

Not bothered at all by the bird's strange manerisms themself he continued, pausing from his meal, "Ah... So your the one who keeps the wolves fat and happy over here?" , he half joked.

Wrenching on the collarbone of the goat, it yeilded with a fleshy pop. "I am Kuhn... Good to meet you."
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 Ah! Such honeyed words! Such compliments! It as a surprise that the bird’s head didn’t explode from how big the tiger was inflating it. He completely missed that the tiger might have been joking or a little bit teasing, he read it as the man recognizing his greatness. ”Ya! Wolfs not eat without Krakarak! He make sure that they get the best food! Krakaw!” And in doing so, he kept himself fed for he was allowed to feed freely from the carcasses.

 And it got better!

 ”Kuhn!” The bird clacked his beak appreciatively. ”Is good name! Kuhn! Good name! Not like other dumb pansy wolf names! Kuhn! Kuhn!” He cawed the name appreciatively, much like how he cawed his own name and Ragnar’s.

 He reached down, pulling some more meat from the carcass while eyeing the tiger’s lovely orange fur. He swallowed his –relatively small—pieces of meat down. Contemplating if he should ask now after having given the proper compliments.

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Watching the bird from a side eye, the cat's lip was upturned, amused at the bird's mannerisms.  Returning, to his gruesome task, Kuhn's cavernous maw tore away swath's of flesh.  Sending each bite into the abyss, he listened and watched the bird eat and hop about.  

Surprised that the bird said his name properly of all people; the striped beast rattled off a low chuckle, still in the midst of dis-assembling this kill.   Looking up at the bird again he smiled warmly, with a full mouth; he was giving the dark bird his deserved attention.  Though, his jaws where busy with other things at the moment.
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 There was silence for a moment as they both ate, but only a moment because the chatty raven couldn’t not speak when around others. He loved to hear himself talk and now that he had something to ask? Nothing would shut him up.

 ”Can Krakarak have some of your fur? Krak! Krak!” He finally piped up, eyeing the thick ruff of mane that the tiger held. Very enticing area to pluck fur from. Very, very tempting. ”Is pretty fur!” Perhaps a compliment would sweeten the deal. He liked compliments so why wouldn’t the tiger too? ”Would like for nest! Krakaw!” He’d have one of the prettiest nests around! Everyone would be envious of the orange tongues of flame-cat fur!

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Euphorbia has overtaken the striped cat, as she sat with the carcass, matted in blood. The first few bites where usually the best and put him at ease as the initial food aggression died down. "Thanks!", he smiled with a bit of fluster, unsure how to take a compliment. "I don't see why not...", he answered contentedly.  In his current state of amicability, he failed to understand that the bird was looking to pluck the hair from his hide, and not just collect it from his borrowed den. 

So blissfully unaware, the large cat returned to the hole he had created in the carcass, turning a blind eye to the dark bird.  "Maybe sometime ill have to collect one of your feathers." 
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 Success! He had permission! The bird bobbed his head up and down, clearly in a pleased display at the tiger’s assent. The creature then eyed the cat’s mane, looking here and there with his keen eyes for a good spot to pluck. ”Ya! Ya! Kuhn can have! Krakarak share with Ragnar too! He can put feathers in fur! Make look muches better! Krakaw!” Not that the cat’s fur looked bad but with the addition of his beautiful feathers, it could make a puddle of shit look like the most beautiful thing in the world.

 With that, he flapped his wings and then would attempt to alight on the cat’s shoulders. Then, he’d grab at the tiger’s mane in an attempt to pluck some of the looser bits of fur. Just a few pieces, you know, enough to fill most of his beak.

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Lemme know if the PP is too much! XD

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Thinking about having a few raven feathers woven into the longer parts of his fur, he could imagine that it would look pretty cool. "Hmm ya we will have to do that sometime..."

Returning his head back to the kill, his Jaws and eyes where busy inside the body cavity hollowing it out. He couldn't see the bird now.

Seemingly out of nowhere, Kuhn snarled as he felt a sharp pinch as a tuft of fur was ripped loose. Snapping his head upward he only smashed his head into the roof if the ribcage. "What the!", the cat snapped with a growl, pulling his head from the gore.

Staring at the bird, who now had a beak full of his fur, Kuhn's lip curled back and his brows furrowed.
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 Krakarak hopped off the tiger’s back, landing in front of the beast as he looked quite satisfied with himself. He lowered his head to place the fur underneath a deft taloned-foot before returning his beady eyes back to the tiger. ”What wrong? Krakaw! Food bad?” As if he hadn’t just ripped out some of the tiger’s fur.

 Granted, he also didn’t really empathize with how profoundly terrible if felt to have your fur or hair pulled out. He didn’t really do great with empathy or sympathy at all.

 ”Is pretty, ya? Krakarak have best nest! Krak!” He turned his gaze to the trapped fur, turning his head this way and that to admire it from different angles. Clearly in love with the reddish tint.

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Using his wrist, the cat wiped away a streak of gore from the top of his head. His up curled lip, began to fall, looking at the bird. Recently, it wasn't the worst bit of damage that he had taken it was mostly just a surprise.

Anger faded away quickly as the tiger looked at the dark bird in disbelief. At first, the cat's hackles began to raise thinking the bird was taunting him, but he soon noticed that the Raven was completely genuine, seemingly really enjoying the fur.

"Next time, you can just have what I shed. Or, just... with a warning...", he spoke through an uncomfortable smile, reeling his head back.
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"Ya ya! Next time he warn!" He wasn't even put off by the tiger's annoyance... Perhaps he didn't even notice it. He was far too pleased and far too happy at finding someone else that was worth his time.

Stripey-cat has a new best friend!

"Krakarak go take to his nest! You come visit him, ya?" Oh and there would certainly be a later. Krakarak would be sure that some of his future rounds of the territory would include Kuhn.

With that, he picked up his tuft of fur and made good on his word. Taking the fur to go pretty up his home.
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Not much usually distracted the cat from his meals like that, though that bird was quite the interesting hunting partner.

As fast as the back bird came, he left. The bird had told him to come visit, but where? Kuhn was just left with the carcass, sitting there in wonder.
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