Where the warm wind blows

[Trick]

Things have finally been starting to warm up and Shuin knew exactly what that meant. He'd be sweating like crazy when Summer finally hit. Something about his coat always made him a heat magnet and often caused him to seek shade and the comforts of a cool cave. Shuin didn't really mind it though, he was okay lounging about until his energy hit another spike. When that happens he's often out and bounding around in the hot air. For right now though, it wasn't summer yet and finding a cool cave was just an afterthought. Right now his stomach growled as he set a paw into the woods in search of prey.

"Come out, come out whereever you are." The faint markings of what looked to be a smirk marked his maw for all but two seconds before it disapeared. He dipped his head low to the ground and took in the few scents that littered the air. Hiding is useless I hope you know. Shuin's body went into hunting mode as he caught the scent of a buck. His whole body lowered to the ground as he slinked through the bushes and around the trees. The wind was blowing against him and carried the lucious scent of the soon to be dead deer straight to his nostrils. That was one thing Shuin had going for him, the wind. The buck wouldn't smell him and for sure wouldnt see him coming. As he crept closer his green eyes finally spotted the prey.

The deer had no idea what was stalking him, that death only awaited in the shadows just a few feet away. It grazed on the grass it could find sprouting up here and there before it looked up and a few blades of grass fell out of its mouth. Shuin froze, every muscle in his body tensed up. Had he been seen?! Impossible! He had snuck up on this animal flawlessly, there was no way he could hav-Snap! Shuin's ears pricked up as a twig snapped in the distance. Something else was moving around out there and it had caught the deer's attention. As the buck looked away towards the noise, Shuin took his chance and leapt out of his hiding spot. Using his seemingly boundless energy he sped his way to the deer in a matter of a few seconds before his canines latched around the throat and he brought the beast down. Once it had passed away he started to feast to his heart's content. He wasn't worried on whatever made that noise, nothing around here would dare face off a wolf. Only another wolf would be brave enough to go near, and since this was pack territory, Shuin didn't really think much of it.

[.Rabid Lycan.]

Two wraiths fled across the open ground, locked in a sideways waltz with the marshy turf below them. It was not long before they reached the shelter of a copse of rushes, ferns, and towering willows. Once completely engulfed by the woodland, their pace slowed, and their alertness waned. One, a large and somewhat pudgy-looking male, settled on his haunches, scenting the wind with an air of nonchalance.
“These pack wolves are spoiled rotten, aren’t they?” He lifted a hind leg, relieving an itch behind his ear. “Plenty of game ‘round here to feed themselves two times over!”
“Hey, relax—they’ll be sharing soon enough. And keep your voice down—we’re not safe here.”
The other wolf appeared much leaner, with a slick ebony coat and ice blue eyes. She rotated her satellite ears a few times before nodding toward a worn game trail. “We’ll head that way, grab us a bite, and we’re out of here, got that?”
“Whatever, Kasa,” the brute yawned. “And maybe we could stop by those famous Sheeran hot springs while we’re at it?”
Smiling at the suggestion, Kasa suddenly froze. Whirling around, she stared at her comrade, who had accidently crushed a fallen branch. “You idiot!” she hissed. Kasa swiveled about to stare at the game trail, hesitantly inching forward. Come on, just one deer is all we’ll need…

[Trick]

Shuin devoured as much meat as he could before his stomach gave a satisfied gurgle. There was still plenty left so maybe he'd drag the kill out of the forest and then howl to the rest of the pack. Anyone who was hungry could run over at get at the meal. It sounded like a good plan, at least until the wind changed and brought a hint of a new scent. This took Shuin by surprise as he did not recognize the tangy smell. His ears pricked up and telegraphed all sound information to his brain as he rose his nose into the air to try and catch any more scents. From the brief whiff he could tell it was male...or was it female? It was mixed in and too short for him to define it perfectly. There was no doubt about one thing though, it was a wolf and not one from his pack. Shuin stood up tall and puffed out his chest as he rose his head high.

"If you thought you could get the jump on me, you've failed. Come out and let me see who you are." Shuin called out, unsure of what to expect. He didn't like not knowing what was out there, or really, who was out there. If it was a few wolves looking for a fight, he'd have to find a way out of it. It'd be suicide to stay and fight when your outnumbered. His muscles tensed up as he awaited the inevitable rustle of bushes or the sounds of hurrying paws against the dirt. Hopefully they would actually come out, if not...then he'd have a problem. As he scented the air once more, the stench of blood and the kill filled his nostrils and masked much of anything else. All he had to rely on now was his eyesight. Lovely, lets see who's intruding on our territory. Shuin thought as his green orbs scanned the scenery around him. Anytime now...

[.Rabid Lycan.]

The dense patch of trees lessened with every step, one paw over the other as if walking along a tightrope in a high wire circus act. The femme stiffened, the wind shifting—and not in her favor.
Grudgingly, Kasa tilted her head and whispered sternly in her companion’s direction. “Stay here, Gauner; I’m going to take a look.”
And, as if on cue, a voice came ringing from the stillness of the wood. The tone was masculine, but it was hard to identify if there were multiple wolves without the wind to aid her. Sighing, the black wolf silently rushed onward, bounding from side to side like an aimless jackrabbit. Finally, she gained enough momentum to leap and land on the lowest branch of a nearby tree.
Gauner slumped down behind her, watching as Kasa covered the leap with relative ease. She still needs to teach me how to do that he remembered vaguely as he slid onto his belly, ears perked for the sounds of struggle.
From her high perch, Kasa peered at the earth below, and noticed a single shape not too far in the distance, hidden amongst deer blood and fresh-smelling meat. A tongue swiped over her jowls, and she crept and leapt along the lower branches until she was no more than a few yards away from the mystery male.
“Mhmm… you rang, pack wolf?”

[Trick]

Shuin turned his eyes to meet the intruder. Pack wolf? Then she must be a rogue. His muscles released their tention and he sighed inwardly. Just one simple female rogue, that was it. No ambush or warrior party coming in for a battle. Just...her. At least that's what it seemed like anyway. Shuin still kept his ears up, listening for anymore movement. She could be a distraction after all. Though what would others gain by jumping him he didn't know, perhaps a sick satisfaction for bloodlust perhaps? His green orbs latched onto her figure and never left her.

"Rogue. I could call the rest of the pack and have them chase you away. From the looks of things though, you might be...hungry yes?" Shuin asked and licked the blood off his maw. She didn't look very threatening to him, just a bit on the hungry side. It wouldn't hurt sharing a meal he wasn't going to finish would it? No and who knows, he could make another friend. Though from how she spoke he could already infer some things. Pack wolf. Yes, he was a pack wolf alright, but she probably didn't like packs all that much. After all, she was a rogue wasn't she?

The wind rustled through his fur as it brought another scent with it. Shuin sneezed and scratched at his nose with a paw. "And who would that be?" He asked, trying his best not to sneeze once more. It was probably the male he scented. "If you two are both hungry, then feel free to finish this carcass. I've had my fill anyway. You two were probably the ones who distracted it in the first place." Shuin pondered out loud as he backed away from the carcass and sneezed again. Did the male roll in something recently? It didn't matter, it couldn't be helped. He was outnumbered now, that was something he took note of. He was confident that he could talk himself out of a fight if it came to that. But if not...Shuin sized up the fem and began waiting to see if the male would be joining the party too. If worse came to worse, he wanted to know what chance he stood against the two.

[.Rabid Lycan.]

Kasa studied the Sheeran male from her vantage point, the pendulum motion of her tail stirring the leaves at her feet. Initially, she prepared for a threat, tensing her muscles with imaginings of the scuffle-and-run to come flashing across her irises. Her fang burrowed into her tongue, sensing a mocking tone. Hungry? You bet your sweet ass I am…
But then, all at once, he made his offer. She continued to stare, disbelievingly at first, and then suspiciously. Ironic, isn’t it? You’d think this guy would be the suspicious one…
Slowly, the ebony she-wolf abandoned her perch, landing expertly on the ground below. She was far leaner and less rested, but with numbers on her side, the fight tipped in their advantage. “…what’s your game, pack wolf? You lot are usually dead set on keeping us out—why the change of heart, especially with all the Hellfirians running around?”
She narrowed her eyes. For the love of Lupus, Gauner, you better stay where I left you.
Unfortunately for Kasa, Gauner began to rouse from his position, pacing restlessly and glancing toward the game trail. What’s taking her so long?

[Trick]

Shuin watched as she lept from the branch and onto the ground perfectly. It hadn't hit him until now that she was traveling from branch to branch. What kind of a wolf travels by the trees? Well that almost surprised him completely. A clever way of traveling he had to admit...if not slightly dangerous. Shuin pictured himself taking a wrong step or the branch cracking under his weight to send him crashing down. Now that would be a bit unpleasant.

A light smirk graced his maw for a few seconds before disappearing without a trace. His game? Please, he could fool around with them if he wanted to, but today was a good day for him. He hardly ever encountered rogues in pack territory so there was a reason why these two were here. From the looks of things she was hungry, meaning that the other probably was as well. They wouldn't risk getting ripped to shreds just for the hell of it. At least, any sensible wolf wouldn't do such a thing. Who knows though, all Shuin could do was guess at the moment. As far as the wolves from hell and him doing this, he knew as much that they certainly weren't from hell.

"My game? Well if you don't want to eat then fine by me. I'll call the pack over here and let them finish the carcass off." Shuin's green orbs locked onto her icy blue as he started to circle around the carcass. "As far as the wolves from hell go...if you two were them, we wouldn't be talking right now...wouldn't you agree? Now ether you take my generous offer and feast until your full now, or have my pack nipping at your heels kicking you out. You did come here to eat...didn't you?" Shuin always had a way with words and stating the facts. If she needed a little persuasion just to take his kind offer then so be it. He stopped walking as he stood in front of the carcass, just staring at her. Now if he needed to describe how good it tasted and smelled, he was sure he'd do exactly that. Shuin was in a good mood, and befriending some rogues couldn't hurt at all. Besides...he might have a favor to call in that only a rogue could do. Shuin knew enough however to hide that little bit for just himself and any of the pack members that found out about this.

His tail lay limp and nearly touched the ground. His body looked relaxed and in the most non-threatening position. Short of being on his belly anyway. His whole figure screamed no emotion. What was also a curse, was also a savior at times. No other wolf that didn't know to look for signs, or knew him personally, could ever read him. Even for the wolves that knew him very well, it was still a struggle at times. That's why Shuin put in an effort most of the time, for his friends and pack. Milo especially, for Milo has been the closest thing to a best friend he'd ever had. For these intruders however, Shuin made no effort to show what he was feeling. He wasn't going to let them know unless it convinced them on taking him up on his offer.

[.Rabid Lycan.]

Instinctual hesitation seized her limbs, her right foreleg lifted slightly above the foliage and damp gravel beneath. Twin eyes, a pair of sapphire orbs, locked onto her target, but the dissatisfied churning of her stomach eventually persuaded her to creep forward. With her back to the woods, Kasa inclined her muzzle, the impulse to ravenously demolish and devour the carrion almost too strong to ignore.
Finally reaching the flesh, she finally tore her focused gaze from the pack wolf, and sank her incisors into the meal. The brackish taste, the tantalizing aroma—she suddenly abandoned her façade, gulping and growling with rabid enthusiasm.
Meanwhile, Gauner began tracing Kasa’s path. Unable to navigate through the trees, he stuck close to the ground, ears alert. As he neared the site, he was able to detect the scent of meat—and of a male. Another wolf? Assuming the offensive, the brawny male shouldered his way through the remainder of the brush, snarling as he slid out from the undergrowth.
“Who are you?” he growled, honing in on the stranger—seemingly forgetting that he was on enemy territory. Then, as an afterthought, added, “Kasa, are you alright?”
The femme glanced up, twitching an ear. The food calmed her, and she straightened herself while licking the fresh blood from her lips. “He’s clear, for now.” She tilted her head towards the Sheeran. “Though, he does raise a good question. Who are you, pack wolf?”
Gauner slackened his jowls, but remained fixed in his position. A grunt passed from his throat, and he proceeded to approach the corpse without invitation.

[Trick]

Shuin inwardly smiled as he saw the fem fall to her hunger and start devouring the deer. It was always nice getting his way of course, but even better to make a friend. Shuin watched as she tore into the deer before moving his attention to the bushes. There was still the question of the male. Was he going to join or was he going to hide and maybe walk away? Well, ether way, as long as Shuin made friends with the female, it'd all be ok. Now...just where was that male...ah, found him. Shuin's ears pricked up as the male shouldered his way through the bushes looking like he was ready to eat him alive. Shuin stood his ground, still no emotion to be found in his body language.

Who was he? He shouldn't have been so rude! How could he forget his own name? Well, it wasn't entirely his fault. He had just eaten and then they show up out of no where and he was trying to get her to eat and all that good stuff. Well now he could correct that little issue he supposed. Now that the male had calmed down anyway.

"A name for a name then?" Shuin asked as he stared at the male. Obviously her name was Kasa but the male's was still unknown. "My name is Shuin, warrior of my pack. You would be...?" Shuin trailed off as awaited the answer. He moved further away from the carcass before turning to watch the feast. Yes, the two of them could be of quite use to his pack.

[.Rabid Lycan.]

Her tongue chiseled idly at the pink of her gums, a sort of crooked smile creeping onto her face. The crisscross pattern of blood remained thick across her muzzle. Her left ear twitched briefly.
“Call me Kasa.” She tossed her head in her companion’s direction. “And you may refer to him as Gauner.”
Gauner grunted softly at the recognition, not bothering to raise his head from his feast.
“…remember to save some for the others,” Kasa cautioned, assuming a quieter tone. Then, returning her gaze to Shuin, she smiled. “Shuin, then. A proud and noble pack warrior… suits you. So, Shu-Shu, how’s life in your pack? Eating well? That ensemble of crazies giving you trouble?”