Nothing Much (Open)

[Njack]

Ene padded softly through the woods. There was nothing to do, really. At least, for her. She was vaguely aware that Blood Mist had complicated plans for the packs, but other than that...

I'm just a lackey, she grumbled in her mind. Not a very good one either. All I've got is my wits.

She sniffed the air, catching the scent of a rabbit. More than one rabbit. Must be a den or something. Ene slowly advanced, sniffing as she went. The scent is strong... Actually, strongest... right... here!

It looked like an ordinary patch of dirt, with the added scenic value of a hole. Snake hole, mole hole, groundhog day, whatever. But her senses had never failed her before...

I can't get them by reaching in... Maybe there's some way to smoke them out. Her eyes lit up. Literally.

A few minutes later, any bypassers were granted the odd sight of a wolf trying to rub two sticks together on a pile of kindling. Finally, the fire lit, and Ene waved her paws frantically in the direction of the burrow, wafting copious amounts of smoke. Good, the wood's not high quality. Lots of smoke, not too much flame.

A rabbit darted out of the burrow, too fast to catch. Ene waited patiently. The second one she caught, breaking its neck with a quick snap. Eh, maybe some other predator will get the bunnies, if there are any.

She snuffed the fire.

[.Rabid Lycan.]

It was almost terrifying, how fast time had slipped out of her grasp.
It couldn’t have been more than a few days, could it? The sunrises, the sunsets… but why else would he have been gone? And wounds don’t scab over this quickly… and neither do scents. How long have I been away?
An almost dreamlike haze tempted her forward, as if some invisible conveyor belt had slid beneath her paws and was carrying her toward some unseen destiny. A destiny, judging by the deep scar on her chest and the nick on her forehead, which did not appear welcoming.
Then why is this… familiar?
A scent hung on the wind, teasing her senses with the promise of revelation. It was not Lucifer, certainly not Damien… but who?
Her stomach moaned, temporarily breaking the trance that held her suspended in confusion. She sighed, bowing her head until the ivory hairs of her chin grazed the earth. First things first… a nice, warm meal. Sanceul crept onward, lured no longer by mysterious aromas, but by the odor of rabbits.
Delicious hares, I can almost taste them…
Then, much to her surprise, the thicket rustled. She instinctively shot her head up, expecting an ambush—Morgan?—to find a stream of retreating rabbits flooding the path. What the…? Quickly seizing the slowest of the bunch, fangs met raw flesh and her stomach contorted with pleasure. But, even still, she quickly drew herself into a defensive crouch.
They were running from something… or someone.

[Njack]

Wait, what's that? Ene sniffed the air. The smoke is dulling my senses; not a good thing.

But there it was. An unfamiliar scent, and unmistakably... wolf.

She resisted the initial urge to shout, "Who's there?" and give herself away, right then and there. For all I know, it's one of the pack wolves, seeking revenge for something or other. Instead, she crept, ninja-like, through the trees, hiding secret-agent-style when the need seemed pressing.

Finally, she managed to locate herself somewhere to the side-back of the other wolf. She couldn't quite tell, but it seemed like the other wolf was distracted. Well, my position's about as good as I think it can get.

Preemptively making sure her claws were ready for combat, she growled, "Who are you?"

Eh, all that planning and still nothing interesting to say.

[.Rabid Lycan.]

All at once it hit her; the reek of smoke. Sanceul reeled back, the foul tar flavor knocking the wind from her lungs, even in the small amount. Hellfirians all over again—are they here? Did I get out, only to get dragged back in? She flicked her ears, flickering her pupils about. Am I just being paranoid?
At the sound of another voice, she dismissed the latter as an option. After all, when most of the valley either doesn’t care or wants you gutted alive, a little paranoia was not only excusable, but necessary. Gritting her fangs as the wind carried the suffocating fumes away from her breathing space, she growled in return. Swiveling about to stare at the source of the disturbance, her jowls withdrew even farther from her lips.
“Valley wolves call me a gypsy, and that’s all you need to know, for now.” As an afterthought, she added, “And whoever you are, pack wolf or Hellfirian or whatever, I invite you to come into the light, and save me the trouble of dragging your cowardly carcass out of the bushes myself.”
Okay, maybe a little harsher than I intended, but, with a couple dozen maniacs trying to kill me, I think it’s justified.

[Njack]

"Gypsy, huh?" Ene narrowed her eyes, though she was somewhat sure that the other wolf could not see her. "I assume that means you're a loner..." She's not openly hostile. That brings another problem, though. I've lost the element of surprise. Ah well, I can always cut and run.

Picking up the rabbit she had killed earlier, she stepped into the open. There was no reason not to now. Her voice had given her location away anyway.

Voice muffled by the rabbit, she said, "Hellfirian? Where'd you get that idea?" One foot tapped the ground, claws still ready to strike.

Stupid question, but let's see where this goes. Ene blinked a couple times as the smoke irritated her eyes.

[.Rabid Lycan.]

“In some circles, sure, I suppose you could say that.”
Apparently taking up her offer, the new fae emerged, a freshly slaughtered rabbit dangling from her maw. Sanceul narrowed her orbs, the two contrasting colors glinting as she studied the unfamiliar figure. The newcomer appeared small and lithe—similar in size and—noting the ivory pelt—appearance as well. Slow to relax her suspicions, Sanceul straightened herself with an unimpressed scoff under her breath. At least she seems to be alone.
“For one, it’s better to assume that someone’s from Hell before assuming that they’re from the Twilight Realm; safer that way. And, for another… you smell like fire.” Sanceul blinked slowly. “Any particular reason?”

[Njack]

The rabbit head jiggled as Ene responded. "You assume all wolves are dead."

A small glint of a smile appeared on her features as Sanceul mentioned fire. "Fire, you say? Well, at least your nose still works." She shifted the rabbit somewhat, to keep from dropping it. Then she gestured over where she had originally come from. "Flushing some rabbits out. Unless you've got a problem with that or something."

A lone rabbit rolled by like a tumbleweed. Because it could.

[.Rabid Lycan.]

“Flushing them out? What are you, a plumber?”[/b][/s]
(( sorry, first thought that came to mind xP ))

A half-smile momentarily graced her lips as well. “Trust me, with my friends, it’s a lot less complicated that way.” Then, the shadows of dark humor dissolving from her mind, the distrustful scowl returned. “But… flushing them out, you say? Odd practice for a simple rogue, let alone a wolf in general. What, do you find fire lying about every day?”
On second thought, I bet you do.
“Mind showing me this technique of yours? Could be useful, when prey gets scarce and whatnot.”

[Njack]

"Why, yes, I am. Do you see my certified double-P in plumbing from the University of Trees and Roots?"

First thought that came into her head? Sure, if you don't kill me. But that wasn't such a good idea to say. For one, it would immediately let the other wolf know that she feared attack. The other reason? She didn't think promises were worth that much, especially from strangers.

Instead, she mumblegrowled, "That seems... reasonable. But for a price, shall we say?" Her eyes flickered briefly over the numerous twigs littering the ground. Shan't be too hard to accomplish anyway. "Just an answer to a simple question."

Ene didn't know why she was asking, but she did anyway. "What's your name? Your real name, not an alias, not an alibi."

[.Rabid Lycan.]

Her hackles raised slightly, the prospect of a bargain not on her agenda. If it’s a fight you want, it’s a fight you’ll get. Sanceul held her ground, her muscles itching to spring forth and release the suppressed fury within.
And then the question hit her.
For a moment, she stood completely still. Then, slowly, her frame began to quiver. The quivering escalated, small spasms echoing from her ribs to her toes. But it was not a convulsion, or some mysterious ailment that held her captive within the sudden shakes. No, it was laughter.
“Is that all? Um, listen, what’s-your-face… I’m adopted. I don’t know my real name. But I’ve taken a sorta liking to ‘Sanceul’, if you’d like to use that. Not that it matters. Now, Miss Nameless, you were telling me about rabbits?”

[Njack]

Ene widened her eyes slightly, then brought them back to their normal position. "You never know... Sanceul. Names have power." She padded over to a densely twigged area, still watching Sanceul carefully. "Mine's Ene."

Not that she cares. Nor does my name matter much in the end. Hah, that's what she just said, I know. But I, again, am just a Blood Mist lackey. Lackeys die.

She picked up two sticks in her paws and examined them, the rabbit head in her mouth staring with glassy eyes. They were dry enough; they would do. Then she put them back down in a less twig abundant area, making sure she remembered where they were.

She bounded over to a nearby tree, clawing it. Scraps of bark peeled off, but the cut was not deep enough to penetrate the bark layer of the tree. Not that it was intended to. It wouldn't kill the tree or anything. She picked up the scraps, as well as a few other damper twigs.

"The sticks are starters, the scraps and damp twigs are kindling." Ene glanced over at Sanceul. "Damp twigs, they'll make it harder to start the fire. But you'll need a lot of smoke to flush anything out, and good wood doesn't make a lot of smoke."

She grunted as she rubbed the two sticks together, creating a few sparks. After a few more tries, she finally got the fire to ignite.

"There," Ene said, still watching both the other wolf and the profusely smoking fire.

[.Rabid Lycan.]

(( “lackeys die” is going to be one of my mottos from now on ))

“Hurmph. Ene it is, then.”
Sanceul continued to survey this new wolf—this Ene, if that was her true identity. Still, you can only go so far with a name. But a sort of odd ritual unfolded—for a gypsy, it was not entirely alien, but still odd. But her contemptuous façade immediately shattered when a tiny flame emerged from the dead wood.
“You’re a firestarter!” she cried incredulously. She blinked slowly, unable to comprehend what she was witnessing. Of all the things to run into today, a firestarter? I mean, gypsy or no, this is still completely bizarre, but… but… “How the hell did you figure out how to do that??”
Again, that familiar scent from before came on the breeze, but she dismissed it as smoke clouding her judgement.

[Njack]

Ene shrugged. She didn't quite see what was so special about starting fires. I mean, it's a useful skill for prey, but it's not like- She fanned the fire gently to keep it going, but made sure it wasn't spreading. Okay, maybe it is rare, but it's not that useful besides this one thing.

"I seem to remember a huge blaze not too long ago," Ene finally said. "I didn't start it, but something or someone must have. By the way it burned, it seemed obvious that fire only really needs two things to keep going: wood and air."

She blinked. "After that it just kind of took off. Smaller twigs burn faster, so they're good for starting fires. Friction creates heat, so that's why you rub the twigs together." She fanned the flames once again, as they were beginning to die out. "Doesn't burn for long though. Anyway, that's the knowledge. You're welcome to it."

Ene watched Sanceul carefully for her reaction. Now that she's got everything she needs from me, is she going to attack me? I wouldn't put it past her... nor any wolf, for that matter.

[.Rabid Lycan.]

Sanceul maintained a disbelieving stare, just short of gawking at the fae that casually fanned the fire before her. Does this nut have any idea what this could mean? Or, better still—
And, all at once, it hit her. As the fumes casually flowed elsewhere by means of the wind, that single aroma became all too real. She had dismissed it before—figments of her imagination. Stale traces of former acquaintances, perhaps. But no, the illusions of smoke and fog suddenly parted to reveal an ancient scent, with familiar roots. Not unlike family roots.
“…no.” Sanceul’s eyes twitched, out of focus. “…that scent…” It’s getting fainter—fleeing? Her eyes snapped into clarity. From the fire!
“Er, yeah, about that… mind giving me more details on the go? And I’ll need to borrow this for the moment—“ She leaped forward, snapping one of the larger branches in her jaws and racing forward, as if wielding a torch. Don’t lose the trail, don’t lose the trail… Momentarily, Ene was forgotten. Bloodlust was on her mind.

Accordingly, in a not too distant clearing, an elderly fae padded onward, wary of the whispers of smoke that rose from the nearby woodlands.

[Njack]

The hey? Ene stared in disbelief as Sanceul snatched the fire away. Well, part of it.

There wasn't any time to lose, and she wasn't exactly sure what was going on. She snuffed the second fire that she had made that day and took off after Sanceul.

The wind whistled through her fur as she chased the other wolf, finally edging so that her head was somewhat near Sanceul's midsection. "Do you mind telling me what's going on?" Ene hissed. The flaming branch waved just feet in front of her face.

And yes, the rabbit was still dangling from Ene's mouth. She wasn't going to lose her meal, was she?