|
|
Post by Otter on Feb 24, 2011 22:53:34 GMT -5
Tuck Quickspear clambered out of his borrow. The air was clear, and there was less snow than there had been for quite some time. it seemed to have rained again, possibly over night. He looked upriver into the forest and then downriver sniffing the air. Nobeast had been through this way overnight, or at least since it had rained. He walked a ways from his burrow spear leaning gently against his shoulder.
First thing's first he thought, breakfast. It made him smile, the muddy river, from recent rain was going to make things interesting. He could see their shadows, and they could see his. Shoving his spear into the ground he waited for the moment to strike. there were plenty of shadows in the water right in front of him. he crouched ready to spring, and they darted away. He sighed, he wasn't really that hungry yet and that always led to mistakes.
Grabbing his spear from the ground and knocking the mud off he took a defensive position against imaginary enemies. He ducked and swerved lashing out with his spear. All was well until he slipped on the muddy ground falling flat on his back. His spear whizzed into a trunk of a nearby tree. He silently walked over and grabbed the shaft, yanking it out of the trunk. That's why you practice I suppose, he thought, to get better. He took his place again, this time drawing a circle around himself in the ground. Lowering his spear part way he focused on the attack. He jabbed left and right, then thrust his spear in the ground and high kicked off of it into the face of an imaginary enemy. Landing, and breathing hard he walked back to his spear and turned around ready to do it again, in a different direction.
|
|
|
|
Post by aurethius on Feb 25, 2011 15:19:16 GMT -5
Tuck turned around just as Egger the stoat came around from behind a tree. The ruddy-brown Egger, wearing his leather vest and with his haulin sack strapped to his back, had his hand on the bark, and all his weapons in their sheaths. He was a muscular vermin, long and powerful, but Tuck still outclassed him easily in size and bulk; a fact he definitely noticed. His black eyes are fixed on the intimidating Tuck; his body is absolutely motionless as the otter sees him as well. Egger mentally curses, realizing he had just stumbled upon a very dangerous thing.
With the audible rushing of the nearby River Moss, the young stoat had had no idea the otter was there. To make matters worse, Egger was a bit distracted by the weak struggling of his prey...
For in Egger's jaws, tightly gripped around the back of her neck, was a tiny she-shrew. Even the youngest of shrews were vicious fighters, and Egger had worked hard to stalk and snatch her away. He had come down to the river to wash her off before finishing her. She squirmed in his teeth painfully, but he had one of her arms pinned and her face turned away from his, so there was little she could do, even with her dangerous teeth. She was going to be a fabulous meal once he got her cleaned up!
But then this. Egger does not move, locked in the few brief seconds that have passed since he came around the tree...
|
|
|
|
Post by Otter on Feb 25, 2011 15:43:50 GMT -5
Tuck stopped as Egger appeared from around a nearby tree. He was shocked, and surprised that he hadn't heard anything approach. He then saw that the stoat had prey in his mouth, a tiny shrew. He exhaled in disgust. Vermin scum, he thought to himself, never learning how to use their heads like the rest of us beasts! he growled trying to act menacing, he wasn't looking for a fight. The shrew was struggling still, a good sign but Tuck wouldn't know what to do even if he managed to save it.
He crouched a bit and lowered his spear, taking a defensive stance. His trousers slowly slid up the back of his wet and muddy legs as he bent his knees facing the stoat. He was ready, muscles tensed and ears twitching, his eyes bright with anticipation. He bared his teeth now waiting for his opponent to make a move. He didn't feel good about killing any creature but if attacked he would fight anything as long as it took him to beat it away.
|
|
|
|
Post by aurethius on Feb 25, 2011 15:48:17 GMT -5
Egger breathes a sigh of relief, and to further calm himself he licks at the shrew inside his jaws, tasting the blood there. With her in his mouth, he couldn't quite communicate, but he does take a few steps backwards. With empty paws, claws still muddy from the chase of the shrew, he waves them, as if to say "No trouble 'ere mate, I'll find anudder spot'n the river..."
|
|
|
|
Post by Otter on Feb 25, 2011 15:56:26 GMT -5
Tuck knew better than to trust vermin. He followed the stoat at a distance pacing quickly to see around the tree before the stoat disappeared behind it. He did relax a bit, Egger was weaponless after all, and Tuck guessed that the stoat had as much of a surprise as he himself did. Charging about the wood was a favorite pastime of Tuck, and he had many a time spooked vermin, and been spooked himself. He still kicked himself mentally for not paying more attention.
|
|
|
|
Post by aurethius on Feb 25, 2011 16:01:33 GMT -5
Egger is still there, backing away. He goes so far as to make a 'shooing' motion at Tuck with his paws. It didn't seem like this tough-looking otter wanted trouble, Egger slowly turns and begins romping a bit farther down the river. He aims to take care of his victim down there, just in sight of the otter so Egger could keep an eye on him. Clearly, the otter would feel better if he could still see Egger too...
|
|
|
|
Post by Otter on Feb 25, 2011 16:06:26 GMT -5
Tuck stops at the tree able to see Egger make his get away and leans against it. His heart is pounding in his chest still, and he breathes a sigh of relief. The stoat was obviously not one to start a fight either. That was perfectly fine by him. Leaning his spear against his right shoulder and looking past Egger, he becomes lost in though thinking of his father, still wondering what happened all those years ago.
|
|
|
|
Post by aurethius on Feb 25, 2011 16:12:50 GMT -5
Feeling as though he dodged an arrow (a very strong, dangerous, furry arrow), Egger makes his way down the river. As he had planned, he remains in sight of Tuck, and draws his stickin knife from his hip and climbing on a flat rock that was level with the river. In a smooth motion, he drops the she-shrew so that she fell on her back, and his paw, long claws and strong arm, pushes down onto her neck. She does manage an audible squeak then that carries down to Tuck's ears, crying "'elp! 'elp!" before his grip shuts off the sound. Egger raises his dagger, the morning sun's light glinting off of it and the water. He whispers to her as he angled a claw over her terrified eyes.
"You 'ush now lil morsel. Gonna make it quick, aye."
|
|
|
|
Post by Otter on Feb 25, 2011 16:21:15 GMT -5
Tuck was jerked from his thoughts as two 'elps rang over the water. The shrew was still very much alive. You dumbbeast! Tuck roared at himself mentally, taking off towards the stoat spear raised. His eyes burned hatred, and he worried that he wouldn't make it in time. He saw the glint of the blade as he ran, hoping this stoat didn't know how to throw it. He was slipping while pushing his feet off the ground, the slick mud reminding him of more than one danger.
|
|
|
|
Post by aurethius on Feb 25, 2011 16:25:01 GMT -5
Now this Egger heard! As the otter rushes, Egger is quick to bury his knife hilt-deep in the shrew's neck, silencing her for good. The stoat struggles to yank it back out as the Otter charges, and she shouts at the creature.
"Oi, now yer takin issue wit me!? What'd ye think I was gonna do wit her, take her to tea? Git ye gone rivercritter!"
He grunts then; in his panic, he had stuck the blade too deep, and it seemed to be caught! He braces himself for the charge, tightening the cord-like muscles in his back. He figured the Otter would dash him into the river, so he grips his prey tightly. If he got tossed in, he'd use her lifeless body as something to float on, or risk being drowned!
|
|
|
|
Post by Otter on Feb 25, 2011 16:39:24 GMT -5
Tuck watched as the dagger was buried in the young shrew. He let a yell escape his mouth in his anger and frustration. Trying to slow down so he wouldn't crash into the river. He stopped beside Egger, just barely, he had slid a ways, and glared daggers at him. It seemed pointless to do much else, although he did have a mind to whack the stoat in the ribs. He gripped his spear tightly debating on what to do.
|
|
|
|
Post by aurethius on Feb 25, 2011 16:43:25 GMT -5
Egger slows his struggling and opens his eyes when the strike never came. He opens them, looking up and seeing the anger on the Otter's face. His paw releases the hilt, figuring any wrong moves with his hand on the blade would get him a spear-stuck rib.
"Alrighty big feller, ye made yer point, aye? Ye don't like it, but I kilt her just like you kilt a fish. Same stuff, diffrn't names, y'know?"
He remains unmoving, dangerously close to an angry otter and a river that was deadly for creatures unaccustomed to swimming.
|
|
|
|
Post by Otter on Feb 25, 2011 17:02:11 GMT -5
"Nay vermin." Tuck said, his voice gruff as he shook his head. To Tuck it was not the same. The shrew could've grown and become the next who knows what but it was a life. There was no telling where she was from, all he knew was that she was innocent.
"Differ'nt" Tuck said, beasts and fish were very different. Beasts were beings, fish were food. Beasts could talk, and fish if they could, never talked to beasts, and so beasts ate them. That's how it was. It was an unspoken rule that beasts never ate other beasts, or so his father had taught him. Tuck shook his head, now wasn't the time to become lost, he needed to figure out what he should do.
|
|
|
|
Post by aurethius on Feb 25, 2011 17:09:14 GMT -5
Hearing the otter repeat his term, Egger nods eagerly.
"Aye, just diffrn't names. Ye move along now rivercritter, ain't nothin for ye here."
He looks back down and slips his knife out of the she-shrew, wiping it on her fur before placing it back into his scabbard.
"Ah, 'ere now. Ifn' ye want, I'll give ye some of 'er guts to bait yer fishies with. Fair trade aye?"
He grips her body and looks up, honest in his offer.
|
|
|
|
Post by Otter on Feb 25, 2011 17:25:26 GMT -5
He shook his head again, "Nay, beasts an' fish." Tuck didn't feel like arguing, this dumb stoat wasn't getting it and he wasn't going to waste his breath. He knew what was right and what wasn't. There was nothing else he could really do here. He turned as the stoat bent over his "meal" he was definitely not going to watch him gut the poor beast.
Tuck's mouth gaped open when Egger offered up pieces of the shrew for bait. It was offensive to him, this beast was just alive and breathing, and he had the nerve to think of it as bait! Tuck bared his teeth, not growling, but trying to suppress his anger. He shoved the point of his spear in the stoat's face gripping it so hard it was shaking.
|
|
|
|
Post by aurethius on Feb 25, 2011 17:32:00 GMT -5
Eggers eyes cross as the speartip comes near.
"Whoah whoah WHOAH! Watch where yer stickin that dagnab thing! What, yer wantin me to bait yer spear?!"
He reaches up with a paw and gently pats it away.
"That ain't gonna work now, ye gotta toss the guts in the water an then stick the fish when they come sniffin. 's what I do. Can't go puttin the guts on the pointy end, don't make no sense!"
He shuffles away an inch from the still-dangerous otter, still not realizing why the otter was angry.
|
|
|
|
Post by Otter on Feb 25, 2011 17:52:10 GMT -5
Tuck jabbed at Egger with the spear tip, deliberately not getting him. Letting the stoat tap it away and leave the few inches that he did. he was frustrated and made one final attempt, "No beast, be food vermin." he growled. This stoat was sad really, he looked about ready to bolt.
When Egger made the statement about putting the pieces of the beast in the water and letting it float to attract fish.He whipped the spear around and knocked the butt of it against the stoat's head. Not hard but just quickly enough and firm enough to move his head. He then sighed and walked away glancing over his shoulder and shaking his head sadly.
|
|
|
|
Post by aurethius on Feb 25, 2011 18:07:38 GMT -5
Egger takes the hit. Felt just like when his momma gave him 'love taps' when he ate too much of his own catch without leaving some for her. If he were a cat, he would've purred at the pleasant memory.
"Well..." he starts, thoroughly confused.The otter didn't want the guts, didn't want the meat, didn't want to kill him...
"Well alright then." he mumbles. He draws his skinnin knife out of his vest pocket, plops down on the rock, and sets to work.
|
|
|
|
Post by Otter on Feb 25, 2011 18:30:58 GMT -5
Tuck glanced back and immediately regretted it. He quickened his pace as he walked back to his burrow. He was hungry now, and with the river still muddy, and him being gone there were more fish scavenging now than there were before. Their shadows danced in the water and Tuck decided now was as good a time as any to catch himself some breakfast.
He sat by the river and thrust his spear into the water at a group of fish. He felt the tip hit something, and dragged the spear slowly out of the water to see what he had caught, if anything. He did catch a fish and it was the perfect size for his breakfast. He scaled it, saving a few scales to use as shiny bait lures in the water. He sat down content, knowing he had to practice more, and thinking once again, about his father.
|
|
