Starved

Hope you’ll like it, @Ries ! Can’t wait to write with you! C;

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It was nothing like a nightmare—he had awoken precisely where his memory had last abandoned him, amidst the thunderous clamor of the waterfalls. How long had exhaustion claimed him? Hours, days, weeks? Taurenis could not tell.
The only lingering trace of time’s passage was the faintest whisper of driftwood, laced with a breath of jasmine. Nothing unusual by the water’s edge, yet that scent—he had tied it to Twyla. Had she been real, or merely a specter conjured by his weary mind, the fragile illusion that had allowed him to cling to hope? It no longer mattered. Hunger gnawed at him.

He rose, every muscle aching with the slow burn of lingering fatigue. Hunting would be arduous today, but it was necessary. Lifting his head to the wind, he sought the faintest trail, the ghost of a scent that might lead him to a meal. But all he could smell was water. It filled his senses, suffocated him, as if he were drowning in it once more…

Shaking off the memory, he tore himself from the tangled embrace of the streams, fleeing even the smallest droplets that now stirred revulsion within him. At last, he reached higher ground, where the vast pine forest unfolded before his weary gaze. Birds called in the canopy—he could hear them—but they were beyond his reach. He was in no condition to hunt them, and even at his strongest, he had never been built for such prey. Small game had always eluded him, especially those swift and feathered. And here, in the pines, such creatures were all he was likely to find—fleeting shadows, quick and cunning, far more so than he was.

Alone, he would achieve nothing. His hunger twisted into pain, sharp and insistent. It was so overwhelming that when a growl echoed through the silence, he could no longer tell if it came from his stomach or his mounting frustration. His lips curled, his brow furrowed, and a sharp, guttural snarl escaped him: “Damn it!”

Then, in the distance, barely visible, barely detectable by scent—a silhouette. A large prey animal?

Taurenis dropped low, pressing himself to the earth, ears flattened against his skull, his gaze piercing through the haze of the forest.

A wolf?

“You, over there!” he called out, straightening up and stepping toward the so-called "you" with a gait that was far from fluid—stiff, laden with soreness.
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Ries had not traveled much outside of the territory in several weeks - a feat for the wanderer, who preferred travel over all else. But recently he'd felt more anchored to his home, this pull to it that kept him nearby. He could not put a paw on what had changed, but something had - the grief had lessened, even if only the slightest amount, and the peaks no longer felt as though they could crumble in on him at any moment. Felt more like home and less like a graveyard. 

Still, though, he itched to move, and the lands northwest had called to him today. The scent of pine filled his nose, clean and sharp. Birdsong filled his ears, high above his head. It was a beautiful day, alive with the approach of spring, and with it, Ries felt more alive than he had in months. 

What a lovely day for a stroll. A lazy day, spent alone, where he could do nothing but exist - nothing but enjoy the forest and...

You, over there!

Ries paused mid-step, golden eyes rounding in surprise at the sudden call. His head swiveled and the man approaching gave him pause, unsure precisely what to make of him. A large wolf, no doubt, with a stiff gait - Ries' first thought was that he was aggressive, perhaps defending his territory from a perceived intruder. Ries was certainly no threat, himself, though @Belenus' teachings were at the forefront of his mind as the bulky stranger made a beeline straight for him. 

Still, in hopes of giving him the benefit of the doubt, Ries allowed his tail to swing from side to side, amicable and approachable, he hoped. "Hello, there," he greeted, a smile springing to his lips. "Can I help you?"

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Your writing is SO pretty! I'm excited to write with you too!

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I already love this thread xD <3

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He didn’t seem aggressive, anyway; the thought hadn’t even crossed Taurenis’ mind. Where he came from, helping each other was the norm—either that or people simply ignored one another. But it was rare, almost unheard of, to show hostility toward a stranger without any prior grievance.

The tall, brown-ish man devoured the distance between them in long, loose strides, his gait both ungainly and deliberate. For a moment, it seemed as though he wouldn’t stop, breaching the other’s space without hesitation—only to swerve at the last second. He began circling him, slow and unhurried, his sharp gaze tracing every detail: the set of his shoulders, the way he carried his weight... He was studying him, sizing him up, gauging how they might move together, whether they’d fall into rhythm or clash: A more than worthy hunting partner—or so he seemed.

“You’re more agile. Smaller, lighter.” The words fell with quiet certainty as he came full circle, halting just a breath away, his face mere inches from the stranger’s, eyes locked onto his.

“You. Help me hunt.” The statement rang with the weight of an unspoken command, as though refusal wasn’t an option. Then, without another word, he turned on his heel and set off, already scanning the underbrush for signs of small prey. Was he being authoritative? Perhaps. But that was simply his nature—a man of few words, who never took the long way around when the shortest path would do.

He cast a glance over his shoulder. “Come.”
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The other man stopped just short of him, then began to circle as a vulture would far above in the clouds. Ries felt abruptly like a mouse under the watchful eye of a cat - a prey item waiting to be devoured. The man had done nothing to harm him, and yet the greeting was a strange one, scanning Ries over, appraising him, far closer than most wolves ever got to someone they didn't know.

Ries forced himself to relax. He was being scrutinized, not harmed, and he couldn't expect all wolves to follow what he perceived to be social norms. Maybe Ries was being the rude one, standing stock still with his head on a swivel, watching the stranger with barely-suppressed unease.

After a moment, the man stopped before him, close enough that Ries could feel his breath against his nose. His face warmed abruptly at the proximity, eyes rounding a little as he stared back at the other wolf.

You're more agile. Smaller, lighter.

Huh?

Ries' brain stalled at the final assessment. Apparently the man had found what he'd been looking for, appraising him in a clinical, physical way. Smaller and more agile in comparison to the bulky man in front of him? Ries supposed he was, though he couldn't make heads or tails of why that was important, until the stranger spoke again.

You. Help me hunt.

Oh. It all made sense now. He'd been scouted as a potential hunting partner, chosen to balance out the other man's size and perform a different role in the hunt.

He did not get much time to decide, if there was even a decision to be made in the first place. The other wolf turned and headed off without preamble, leaving Ries a little stunned. When he'd been a loner, he'd been happy to partner up with others for meals, but it was rare that someone approached him so forwardly with a request that sounded more like a demand.

Come, the man said then, and Ries couldn't help but laugh, amusement rising in his chest. He followed after his new hunting partner with a bounce in his step, falling into place alongside him and studying him now, sunflower eyes creased with mirth.

"What are we hunting?" he inquired, tail swishing behind him. Any trace of unease or concern was gone, melted away by the absurdity of the situation and the delight Ries felt.

How funny this man was, without even trying. Ries liked him.

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So do I!

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What are we hunting?
Good question. What was there to hunt in this place? For the majority of the time he had spent here, Taurenis had slept, leaving him little opportunity to properly survey the area.

The further they advanced, the more the brown man lowered himself to the ground, though with some difficulty. He was oddly silent despite his imposing figure, aided by enormous paws that kept him steady and sure-footed upon the occasionally fickle earth.

“I am hungry. Really hungry.” he finally replied, implying that he required a substantial feast—he wouldn’t have the strength to chase down multiple small prey.

It seemed that every time he lifted his nose to catch a scent, it was the unpleasant stench of the ever-present water that taunted him. He shook his head—what an uncomfortable feeling, to be surrounded by it, to see the waterfalls, and to imagine that at any moment the ground might give way to reveal a winding river beneath. He would hunt, and he would not linger here a second longer.

If he could not rely on his sense of smell in this place, he could at least focus on his sight and the sounds around him. Despite the water's presence, the ground remained fairly dry, so the tracks of game were not so easily discerned. However, Taurenis believed he had spotted a mark on the earth, resembling the light imprint of a small, discreet cervid’s hoof. Yet, that solitary trace, though significant, held little meaning alone.

Taurenis slowed his pace to examine the small wooded clearing, expecting his companion to do the same. Tail low, ears buried in his thick fur, his gaze scrutinizing every new detail.

There were no further tracks, at least none visible to Taurenis, but he had discovered something far more intriguing: small, brown pellets—droppings that suggested they were near a feeding ground, both for the game and for themselves...

“Rrhumf!” he grumbled quietly, merely to draw the attention of his hunting companion, drawing nearer, his inquisitive gaze searching for news, hoping to see if something even more promising had been found.
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The man seemed to give no indication that he wanted to share his name. Normally, Ries would have asked, but the larger wolf seemed to be on a mission for food, and so names weren't important at the moment. What was important was finding prey - after they'd caught something and filled their bellies, perhaps he'd be more willing to converse.

Really hungry. Bigger game would be better, then. Ries was willing to bet this man needed a good amount of food to feel satisfied - far more than Ries himself would. Curious, as he followed, he began to place his paws in the prints his companion left behind, surprised to find that the tracks were disproportionately larger than Ries' own. It felt almost as if he were following a bear more than a wolf.

The scent of water in the air was distracting, but the other man had found a visible trail. Ries mimicked his crouched position, nose to the ground and ears swiveling about, hoping to pick up on any movement. Unfortunately, it seemed they were a ways behind what they were tracking, so there was none of that just yet.

The clearing was a good sign. Ries had skirted around the outer edge as the larger man entered, keeping an eye on the perimeter. It was only when he was summoned directly that he headed back in the stranger's direction.

Droppings were definitely a good sign. Ries' tail wagged and he gave a chuff in response before going back to examining the outskirts of the clearing.

It did not take too long to find the next clue.

Trampled down undergrowth and dusty brown fur clinging to a bush just on the eastern edge. Not particularly fresh, with the scent still stale, but it was the beginnings of what Ries hoped to be an actual trail.

Another chuff to get the larger man's attention, and a check over his shoulder to ensure he was following, Ries began to track what would ideally be their prey, if they could find it.

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The new clues leapt out at him now that his hunting companion had pointed them out. The castaway rewarded his newfound ally with a subtle smile and a slight nod before resuming his search in that direction. Strands of fur lay scattered among the winding crevices of the pine forest, clinging to the sap-slick bark.

When he lifted his gaze, Taurenis noticed that in certain places, the trees stood stripped bare, their bark peeled away—an unmistakable sign of deer foraging to supplement their diet in this season. He lingered there for a moment. The sap seemed still tacky; the passage of their prey was recent. They were closing in. Now, more than ever, they needed to move with care, with the hush of the forest itself. Flattening his frame against the earth, the tall hunter inched forward, his body stretched low, his every sense honed.

A rustle, a scent… The prey was near. They could hear it, breathe it in—but for now, Taurenis could not yet see it. Stealth was paramount. If the beast detected them before they laid eyes upon it, their opportunity would slip away like mist at dawn.

Before the hunt, the world always seemed to pause—an expectant stillness draping the woods like a held breath. The birds whispered in restless cadence, their calls tracing the rhythm of every heartbeat in the undergrowth—both predator and prey entwined in the same silent melody. There was a rhythm to the chase, a pulse to follow, and each living thing sought to fall into step with it.

Taurenis turned to his companion, seeking wordless accord. He himself remained motionless, save for his ears, which flicked and trembled, straining for the faintest shift in the air, the subtlest sign of movement. He did not dare to move. In the rugged slopes of the mountains, he was swift, sure-footed—but here, on this unfamiliar terrain, only his sheer strength would serve him. Agility abandoned him where the ground did not rise to meet his step.

Crouched low, his legs coiled beneath him like tensed springs, he waited. Ready. Now, he placed his trust in the stranger beside him—to call the moment, to spark the dance, to wield the hunter’s might in their favor.
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Ries always enjoyed the hunt.

He also very much enjoyed making someone smile, and that little upturn at the edges of his hunting partner's maw meant he was doing something right. This was a silent exchange, but a pleasant one, and Ries hoped the other man might be more talkative with some food in his belly.

Still, Ries remained quiet as they pressed further along, low to the ground and silent in their movements. They were getting close now - all signs pointed to prey life nearby. Ries felt his stomach give a light rumble in response - while he wasn't starving, he hadn't eaten yet that day, and he was eager to sink his teeth into something delicious.

He was also eager to prove himself a worthy hunting companion.

The stranger looked at him, seeking, and Ries offered a small smile and nod in return. He crept those few steps further to peek out from beneath the brush, and there she stood: a lone doe, separated from her herd. Elderly, from the looks of things, but not lame. Her ears twitched in the way all prey animals did as they ate, always watching, waiting for the moment where they'd have to run.

For this doe, that time was coming soon.

Ries' companion seemed to be deferring to him to make the first move, and so he enacted a plan he'd used multiple times before. He tiptoed around the doe, eyes locked onto her, paws careful where they stepped. Only after he got to his chosen position, more or less across from his hunting partner, did he dart forward, aiming to chase the doe in the larger man's direction.

It worked, for the most part. She startled and bolted, not in a direct line toward the other man, but close enough. She was fast for an older deer, and Ries had to push himself to catch up, nipping at her heels to attempt to guide her in the correct direction.

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The dance had begun, the lithe dancer pursued, her steps guided by the calculated movements of the stranger. A waltz for three—a number that tangled the rhythm, turning elegance into peril. This was no slow, graceful sway; it was a cadence of death, where one had to cling to the tempo, surrender to it, lest they be consumed by it.

Despite herself, the dancer was swept toward the castaway, who had but a fleeting moment to step into the deadly ballet.

Now.

He was heavier than the others—less nimble, less refined. The dancer, though aged, had no desire to bid life farewell just yet. With a breathtaking burst of agility, she twisted away from Taurenis' jaws as they skimmed her throat. In a flourish worthy of a ballerina, she flung her legs skyward, nearly grazing the lurking predator. But the brute, clumsy in his hunger, had already lunged, his force aimed at the fragile figure. If he could not grasp her in a single strike, he would break her footing, unravel her grace. A misstep, a stumble, and the dancer would be lost—trapped between the swift stranger and the unwieldy shipwrecked hunter.

One other faltering step, and the dance would end.

A sharp glance toward his companion, lips curled, fangs gleaming in a sinister snarl—Taurenis was ready this time. One final press from his ally, and the dancer would be caught, ensnared in the gleaming vice of his merciless jaws.

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Luck wasn’t with Tao... I flipped a coin, and it said, "Nope, you’re gonna miss this one." Hehe
If you wanna powerplay next turn and decide whether Tao lands the final bite or not, go for it!

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It seemed orchestrated, the way in which deer and wolf interacted. Jaws missed by a hair, the elderly deer swirling in a way that saved her throat the touch of teeth. Ries had slid to a halt just behind her, momentum frozen, focused in on the way she moved, at the slight - very slight - hitch in her right foreleg. It hadn't been there at the start of the chase, but perhaps it had been tweaked as she'd fled.

Regardless, it would be her undoing.

That first killing bite missed, and while Ries was not made to take down large prey, he could inhibit her long enough that the other man could change his position and go for the jugular again.

Without letting himself overthink it, Ries dove forward, between her forelimb and hind limb, and felt one leg strike his side. It did not hurt, not in the moment, but it made the deer stumble and gave Ries just enough time to sink his teeth into the soft skin between the doe's ribs and elbow.

She made a sound, hurt and frightened, but Ries only bit down harder. So focused was the deer on the wolf at her side that she did not notice when the one right before her sprung forward and, this time, managed to enclose powerful jaws around her airway.

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Thank you! I went ahead and had him bite her <3

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Bon appétit! xD

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She had struggled for only a few fleeting moments, the poor dancer whose final ballet had just been so cruelly interrupted, her body torn apart by the ravenous fangs of her insatiable partners. The more the tall, brown man tightened his jaws around her fragile throat, the more desperately she thrashed— until the inevitable breaking point. A final shudder, a last convulsion, before she yielded to the embrace of death…

Taurenis lingered a few moments longer, ensuring that the last ember of life had flickered out within her lifeless form. It was done. His hunger gnawed at him like a beast unchained. Now, at last, the feast could begin.

“Well done.” he deigned to commend his companion before plunging his fangs into the still-warm flesh of his unfortunate dancing partner. It felt as though he had been starved for an eternity, his hunger so overwhelming that all semblance of decorum was abandoned. He tore into his prize with savage greed, utterly indifferent to propriety. Yet he was no miser—his companion was free to claim his share though he would have to tolerate a true barbarian with little etiquette at his table.
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It took very little time for the life to fade from her old body. There was always a hint of guilt in ending a life, whether necessary or otherwise. This deer who'd lived a life much longer than Ries' own, brought down in just a handful of moments - a last dance.

Ries stepped back for a moment, licking the blood from his maw as he looked down at the doe. After all, he wasn't the starving one - he'd be more than willing to let the larger man dig in first, should he choose.

And choose he did.

Still, with how hungry he was, he took a moment to praise Ries' skills. It set the younger man's tail to a wag and placed a little flame of pride in his chest, thoroughly pleased.

"You, too," he responded in kind, and then stepped forward to dig into the haunch, his stomach once more reminding him that he'd skipped a meal or two recently. His companion's table manners meant little to him - he knew what it was like to be a loner, going days without food. The older man would find no judgment here.

He did glance up, though, studying the man's unique features once more. Handsome, in a strange way Ries had never seen. A different type of wolf, perhaps?

"What's your name?" he inquired finally, unable to tamp down the curiosity any longer.

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What's your name?
With his mouth full, still chewing noisily on what remained in his jaws, he straightened up to observe his young companion.

“Taurenis. Call me Tao.” He added before diving his head back into the carcass that had just saved him from a grisly fate. Never had meat tasted so rich.

“Your name?” he asked, inquisitive, now slowing his feasting as he had filled part of his stomach—enough to feel a sense of calm return, and surely become more talkative. “You're from there, the Fate’s Summit?” He nodded toward the distant place before burying his head once more in the once-living carcass. That summit was, for now, the only place he knew (the pinewood aside). And where could a man come from, if not a mountain?
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