Storm on the Lake {OPEN}

[Rykett]

Skia was in a dark mood as she stormed away from the Wildflower Clearing Territory. She had been hopeful to join a pack when she'd heard the howl. Unforunately they didn't seem to be the right pack for Skia. Not actively evil enough. She snapped at a bird swooping over her head. It squawked as her teeth grazed its wing. Her chocolate eyes watched the bird's form disappear on the horizon.

Then Skia's cold eyes focused towards a glittering lake. The water was a clear blue with patches of white, melting ice. Her paws felt the pebbles of the shore. Skia stopped and look over the the lake. A fish jumped, disturbing the smooth surface of the lake.

[Deleted]

Kasatka wandered through the brush toward the smell of water. She'd been traveling for a while without finding a drop to drink and was now practically skipping toward the smell, paying no attention to her surroundings. Normally she would be walking with stealth, searching for movement out of the corner of a blue-green eye, but the burning in her throat made her forget caution.

As she reached the treeline and caught sight of the water, shimmering in the sunlight, she broke into a run until she reached the edge, crashing into the water and beginning to drink. She could see fish jumping, scattering away from her as she gulped down the precious liquid. The sun reflected off of her dark fur, and against the pale blue of the cold lake, she stood out like a sore paw.

When Kasatka finally had filled her belly with water, she lifted her head and stepped onto the smooth pebbled beach. It was only then that she realized the scent of another wolf and whipped her head around, hackles rising, to see a female standing far off along the beach. Kas was not used to strangers and trusted none but herself, and her heart quickened as she realized the wolfess had probably already seen her. At least, she mused, I'm bigger than her. Kas knew she could defend herself but after several days with no luck on the hunt, she was not in the mood for a fight.

[Rykett]

Skia's brow was furrowed with the roaring beast within her. Her eyes moved past the rippled caused by the fish to a she-wolf across the lake. Her lip moved in a silent growl. This would not be the time to mess with Skia. Maybe not even get within sight of her.

She paced back and forth aggitated. Would this wolf ignore her just like the rest of them? If she did, then she would regret it? Skia wouldn't mind a brawl but she also wouldn't mind a hunting companion if the female shared her evil set of mind. Skia paced over the shore towards the wolf.

[Deleted]

Kas watched as the other femme's body language shifted, her lip rising irritably. Some wolves would lower their tail in submission but that was simply not Kasatka's way. She almost never sought out a fight, but would participate with relish. Normally when she felt rage welling up inside her she would take it out on some prey animal rather than other wolves. Especially lately, since she had no hunting partner, no pack, no game to be seen, and not a friend in the world.

Kasatka didn't let these depressing thoughts change her stature as she walked along the shore toward the wolfess, her eyes piercing, eyes muscle tense. Rather than approach the other wolf rudely, she let out a short howl, one of friendly greeting. Her black fur still bristled, half with fear, half with repressed anger at only god knows what.

[Rykett]

Skia soon met the female as she prowled towards her. She ignored the friendly howl. It seemed to make her more impolite instead of easing her. "Who are you?" Her voice hinting at a threat. Skia's tail was raised high, threateningly and dominant. Her lip was still slightly curled in a growl as she awaited the she-wolf's respond.

Skia decided not to reveal her name and side first. She would prefer to know somewhat of what the wolfess was doing before Skia showed her purpose. Did Skia really have a purpose at that moment? Not really, she just felt like fighting someone.

[Deleted]

The black wolf's brow furrowed as she noted no sign of good will in the stranger's stature. Rudely she had demanded to know her identity, voice saturated with threatening undertones. For a moment Kas just stood there, slightly taken aback, simply staring with her blue green eyes. Then, it seemed she suddenly regained her bearings, muscles tensing, her already bulky frame seeming to swell as her fur bristled. Blue eyes somehow burned as she responded, "I am Kasatka.. Shall you deign to introduce yourself?"

Her tail raised high, neck arched as her eyes bored down on the smaller femme, she continued, "I thought I might come across a hunting partner, as I am traveling alone at the moment." She took one step back, deciding to allow the she-wolf a little space. "It can be quite difficult to take down a deer alone, and I have grown tired of small game." She was weaker than usual, after traveling for days, and would frankly rather hunt than fight. And she certainly wasn't the type to eat her own kind, so even if this encounter turned to violence; a dead stranger would be of no use to her. Frowning, she held her stature, peering at the stranger curiously. She wanted to ask her alignment, but decided to wait. Even in a deadly game, niceties must be observed.

[Rykett]

"Skia," Skia said quickly her tone slightly mellowing but the threat did not exit her voice. Her brown eyes flicked over the black wolfess absorbing any detail that would be helpful if this encounter came to fighting. Skia puffed out her chest as her fur stood on end slightly to make her appear larger. Then she thought about Kas's words and the hinted question for Skia to join her in a hunt.

Skia decided that taking out her anger on a deer would be much more helpful than destroying Kasatka. But there was one last thing... Skia would not hunt with a good wolf. "What's your side?" Skia didn't pay any attention to politeness.

[Deleted]

The other's reply came in a slightly less aggressive tone, and Kas watched as Skia surveyed her, taking note of every detail and puffing out her chest. A true warrior, thought Kasatka, who knew that the most important thing one must do when approaching anyone is to size them up. She had done the same, and did to everyone.

Abruptly Skia asked her alignment, and Kas looked down on her with a frown. "Dark." She was to the point, this one. The black wolfess took a moment to scan the horizon, the water broken by fish leaping. She knew that the other wolf would choose to hunt- if she had any sense, at least. One could tell that the two of them, these two strangers were the same in at least one way- their contempt for everyone else. Kasatka was willing to grit her teeth and bear being around another person if it meant her survival. She hated the feeling of someone watching her, learning her habits, knowing her. It was really only dangerous, better to live alone. But for now, hopefully, she would just fish.

"I take it you are the same?" she asked, her fur and muscles finally relaxing, though her stature remained dominant. She looked toward the water. "It's been a long time since I had fish."

[Rykett]

Skis nodded stiffly. She didn't relax around other wolves unless they had proven themselves to her. This Kasatka seemed to be a wolf fitting of the title of evil but many wolves seemed as such just to disappoint Skia. Skia hated to be disappointed. Her hatred burned with a dark light that was only evident through close inspection of the evil glint in her eyes.

Skia followed the she-wolf's gaze to the lake. "Fish are rather difficult to catch." Personally, Skia disliked fish. They were much too slippery and every time Skia tried to catch a fish, the hunt usually ended in a soaked, red wolf and a fleeing fish. She would rather not be in that situation in the sight of any wolf.

[Deleted]

Kasatka could tell that Skia seemed to have doubts about her. She had met wolves like this before, so deep into the evil that it seemed to eclipse them. Personally she preferred neutrals. They rarely tried to trick her or attack her out of bloodlust, and they were easily manipulated to boot. Perhaps, even more easily than those following the Light.

"Indeed." Kas replied. Fish were difficult, especially for someone with her bulk of muscle and heavy bones. It slowed her down. Looking at Skia she noticed her more petite stature and thought to herself that she would probably be more successful than Kas.

Either way, she approached the water and scanned the surface before stepping in, not wanting to alert the flighty creatures to her presence. She spotted one suddenly, a trout by the looks of it, and a big one. She lifted her paw to but then hesitated turning back to the other femme. "I see one..." she mouthed, watching as it lazily swam too close to shore, unaware of the presence of a predator watching with piercing blue eyes.

[Rykett]

Skia turned her gaze to the trout. She licked her lips hungrily. Her gaze was expectant as her milk chocolate eyes stared towards Kasatka. Hopefully this female was better at catching fish than Skia was. Skia was not one of those smaller wolves who had the spindly legs and were quick enough to surprise a fish and flip it onto shore. She was built for fighting and hunting larger game such as elk. Never had she succeeded in catching a fish. She would prefer not for this Kasatka to see her after an attempt at fishing.

Skia rolled her eyes at Kasatka. She was expecting Skia to catch the fish, wasn't she? Skia would not be embarrassed by some fish. She also wasn't going to stand around and admit her inability to catch fish. "I'm not going to catch that fish! And you won't then I'm not sticking around," Skia's voice scared the fish away. She watched it disappear into the depths of the lake before storming away.
-Exit Skia-