the autumn chase [open]

[tovaana]

She would never wander too far from the den and her parents, but as she was always on the search for something new, she almost unconsciously found herself wandering. Her new game was to pretend and imagine what it would be like to have different powers. Today it was botany, pretending like the grass was talking to her and helping her find treasure. She had seen Amora use it a couple of times and it had caught her imagination easily.

Her puppy paws clumsily pushed her through the taller grasses, giggling as it tickled her stomach and nose. She paused, crouching in the grass, listening to the breeze as it touched the leaves and undergrowth, the brushing of grass on grass, and she watched the colorful leaves fall from the youthful trees around her. As the trees were smaller in this part, it made the undergrowth a little taller, making her adventure a lot more fun for the creative mind.

“Oh, I’m close am I?” She asked and tilted her head up toward the sounds of the trees and grasses in the breeze. Her ears perked up and she moved apart part of the grasses aside with her blue tipped muzzle and found… nothing. However, Valhalla was a she-wolf who was hard to deter in her games. “Ah-hah!” She made a sudden jump and pounced on nothing, but in the process scared a rabbit out of hiding. Her tawny shoulders flinched and she scrambled much like the rabbit had, but she was soon laughing and yipping gleefully as she chased the rodent that had fed well that summer.

————————————————————————————————————

Epicenter walked calmly through the newer wood, admiring the difference between the larger and older forest and the newer younger trees and saplings that dappled his environment. It became grassier, and the sun met the ground more readily. The lands were quiet, with exception to the distant sounds of pack members and the breeze. There was one thing he had missed about living in a pack – while you maybe were not always with the pack, you never felt quite alone with all the smells and sounds.

He had become quite familiar with the lands, traversing them, so much so that he had taken a small trip and was back. There was something comforting about coming back and he reveled in the feeling for a few moments before a closer sound diverted his attention. Duo eyes snapped to the near distance where grass was thicker and it was harder to see further. The sound was chime like, young, and full of joy. A pup. He had smelled them, but he had not met them. Younger pups were usually heavily guarded, and rightly so.

The mid sized wolf moved closer, ears twitching to catch the location of movement and he froze when the noise was suddenly very close and one movement turned into two. A wide red eyed rabbit came bursting out of the trees, its dusty coat followed quickly by a tawny hide speckled in lighter and a bright blue. The little pup hardly took note of him, but squealed, “Don’t let it get away!! Don’t let it get away!” She didn’t seem desperate, in fact, she seemed to be enjoying the chase, though she was quickly losing ground and obviously not going to get the fast rodent – it was nearly her size!

Epicenter made quick in those small seconds, bounding after the two.

————————————————————————————————————

The little tan figure continued to streak through the tall underbrush, her small thin frame slicing and trampling the tall grass. Her tangerine eyes kept fixed on the darting creature that zigzagged away from her, getting further and further. They broke into a clearing and took slight notice of the other wolf, she couldn’t let herself get distracted - her target was the rabbit! Through her glee and excitement, she knew the furry fiend was getting away, and that couldn’t happen! What if it was the treasure she had been looking for! “Don’t let it get away!! Don’t let it get away!” Her voice came almost through giggles.

The male caught on quick and even though they had passed him, he caught up and passed her just as rapidly. She didn’t stop running though, even as both the rabbit and wolf disappeared out of view. “Get it, get it!” She called through panting, her voice breathless and weak. Her paws finally came to a stumbling stop as her legs started to give away from the sudden long sprint. Trembling, she flopped down, and rolling in the dust she looked up into the leaves of the trees. “Don’t worry.” She said to the trees, “I’ll get it yet!” She rolled to her side, leaning up as rustling came from the bushes.

It was the mottled green and brown wolf. She almost didn’t notice the gray limp rabbit in his mouth; his brown and green eyes distracted her. Having rested a little, she was able to stand without trembling, but she didn’t try to walk at first. “You found my treasure!!” She yipped gleefully.

————————————————————————————————————

Epicenter moved quickly, passing the pup and gaining a little on the rabbit – but not nearly quickly enough. He knew that the rabbit probably knew the forest even better than he and would find a hole as quickly as it could. Thinking quickly, the male changed directions slightly, and suddenly became the forest; his green and brown colors faded away and became the colors of the trunks of trees and the forest floor. While he was still in loud pursuit, he shifted his direction again and made a loud snarl, and the rabbit became startled when it glanced his way and became suddenly confused of where it should go.

The male took advantage of its confusion and lunged, his teeth coming in contact with the rabbit’s side. His maw locked and he shook the prey and tightened his grasp until he heard the crackling of bones as the spine in the rodent broke. It quickly went limp in his jaws. Epicenter came to a slow stop, and repositioned the rodent so it was balanced evenly as he walked back, tracing his steps back to the little pup.

She greeted him with the same enthusiasm, her frame rising and falling from deep breathing from her run. The words from her mouth made him smile through the kill and he tossed it toward her. “Your treasure, eh?”

She leapt toward the rabbit and placed her two front feet on it, puffing her chest out. “Oh yes!” She responded, “The forest told me where to find it!”