Stormcloud Moor Bad Omens

Random Event: Dark clouds overhead threaten an incoming snowstorm.
All welcome!

The Death of Peace of Mind

The yearling grumbled to himself with an unceremonious shake of his pelt that did little good to rid the collection of powdery snow from his topside while large paws continued their meandering about desolate, albeit slightly familiar territory. A short pause and a coal black muzzle tilted skyward to allow pale green eyes to take in the rapidly moving clouds, undoubtedly soon to give his marbled coat a fresh dumping of snow to deal with if those darkening clouds forming overhead were more than just a silent threat of a possible incoming snowstorm. Of course luck would have it that Claw would be caught in a snowstorm with no adequate shelter in sight nor a soul in sight to hunker down with and keep him warm.

He just had to let his curiosity get the best of him and follow the scent of some stranger that even more curiously didn't smell like a random stranger at all. Who he was following, though, remained a mystery.

Now here he was cold, alone, and a rumble of his stomach reminded him that he was getting hungry now too. Unfortunately there weren't any creeks or rivers nearby he could utilize to snag a fish or two for a quick bite. The marbled youth lowered his head back down and set his limbs into motion again, adopting a quicker pace in hopes of outpacing the incoming storm. Should the frozen hell above open up the last place Claw wanted to be was exposed out in the open to turn into a frozen wolf-sicle.

Word Count: 259

(This post was last modified: Feb 20, 2024, 08:28 AM by Claw.)

SO WASH YOUR PAWS, ALLEY CAT

Ryder had gotten turned around, but he'd only realized it once the forest had abruptly ended and dumped him back out unto the moor. He had cursed the fates aloud, letting the frustration flow through and out, before carrying on. There were tracks, their scent faint but still present. Maybe that was the reason he was out here again, maybe this was finally the wolf that would have information about his brother. Then even that worked against him. Cover was just a thin, dark line on the horizon now, and the sky above was steadily ramping up the ante. He felt as though he'd been baited into some kind of trap by nature itself. He'd even lost the prints, but now he could clearly smell the other wolf. Ryder chose to push forward against the wind, eventually seeing a dark shape emerge ahead. "Hey!" he practically shouted, knowing it would be hard for his voice to carry, "Hold up!"

ONCE YOU'RE DEAD YOU CAN NEVER COME BACK

(This post was last modified: Mar 18, 2024, 01:19 AM by Magg.)

Step by step the distance melted beneath swarthy paws and yet no such cover ever began to peak just beyond the horizon pale green eyes kept themselves glued upon. Tck. Claw grumbled in disappointment, slowing the pace of his lean limbs to ease the ache that began to slowly penetrate into his muscles. Was this winter wasteland ever gonna end, or at least something worth his while manifest?

Hey!

Unbeknownst he was now being followed, the initial call out was otherwise completely consumed by the vast distance that separated the two and the beginnings of a small breeze that teasingly brushed its invisible fingers through the young boy's coat. Speaking yet of more promises that the storm brewing overhead was making its way closer despite how quickly he was trying to stay out of its range.

Hold up!

This time with the assistance of the breeze the distant voice did manage to tickle the marbled boy's ears enough to cause them to give a flick, paws halting to ensure he hadn't just been hearing things on the wind. He was far too young to be going senile already right? But where had the voice come from? A glance over marbled shoulders revealed no obvious silhouettes against the monochrome landscape, shrugging a shoulder before picking up a slow trot again. "Must'a been hearin' things."

SO WASH YOUR PAWS, ALLEY CAT

Had the stranger stopped? Ryder had difficulty telling. His strides continued strongly, doggedly eating at the distance between them. The way his luck had been going, the sky was going to let loose with a whiteout and separate him from the other altogether if he didn't hurry. Flakes began to fall, and Ryder broke into a sprint. He was a strong runner, the skill actually the culmination of a lifelong affinity for the activity rather than natural talent. In moments, he yards away from his unknown agemate's side. "Hey," he greeted again, a touch breathless after skidding to a stop. His mind blanked a moment; he'd been so caught up in getting to the guy, he hadn't thought about what to open with. "Uh. Hi."

ONCE YOU'RE DEAD YOU CAN NEVER COME BACK

Hearing things he had indeed did, but what he had heard was not just a figment of his imagination created by the winds that picked up around him and began to deposit flakes of snow that fell from the heavens above. The storm looming ever closer still, its belly ready to burst and release its chilling powder more heavily. Great.

A single ear flicked once more as the sound of crunching snow beneath a series of rather rapid paws behind him began to grow louder and louder, causing the marbled youth to halt once more and steal another glance over a partially creamy shoulder. "Hm?" He mumbled to himself, beryl eyes narrowing to try and seek whatever, or whomever was so quickly approaching him. Unlike last time now there was a silhouette that steadily approached, causing muscles to tense partly in preparation for paws that may not stop themselves in time or should a scuffle break out be it a rogue trying to prove themselves.

Luckily neither options came into fruition as an unknown male close in age reached him and the large youth allowed his muscles to relax some, although a guarded demeanor was still maintained. This fellow didn't have the same scent as the trail he had been following. He had a coat of creams and soft browns that barely stood out against the otherwise bleak landscape, sporting a pair of grey eyes that reminded Claw a lot of Clouse.

"'lo there." He responded, the plush of his tail waving neutrally at his rump to showcase there was no threat on his behalf. "Didn't think there was another living soul out here in these barren parts."