Das Norden Wald
This is Das Norden Wald or "The Northern Woods" it is a story about a fictional species of dinosaur like creatures and other animals that are found in the forests of North America.
I wrote this story in my freshman year of high school and there is a lot i wish i could change about it but ive been asked to post to help fellow artists with writers block so here it is in its embarrassingly unrefined form.
Also, if there is any confusion about characters please make a comment. i remember these characters and had artists on DA make reference sheets for me but they have long since left the site and the references seem to be lost.
I swear I am a better writer than this. so much potential that 9th grade just could not elaborate.
oh well. here you are.
Chapter 1
If you could see the auras of a forest, you'd see an ever shifting mosaic of colors and feelings. The vibrance of it would surpass anything that your eyes had ever seen before. Imagine a black background with a fine blue mist floating through your vision. As it clears you begin to see the colors, the emotions and feelings of the land. Light blue stalks topped with yellow, bright and radiant, where you would normally see trees and leaves back lighted by a dark neon green sky. As the leaves fall to the ground they slowly change to a dull brown as they drift in the wind. The dirt the leaves land upon is brown with the occasional grey worm just visible under the surface and bright yellow or orange salamanders under the rotting logs and rocks. There's a little white shape in the corner of your eye and as it moves into your line of vision you can recognize the outline of a rabbit, nibbling on a bush. As it bites the branches a wave of bright red spreads out from the bite and over powers the bush's bright green and stays that way until the rabbit moves on. Eventually you come across a deer shaped patch of hazy sky blue in a clearing, that quickly turns white and brassy as it notices something approaching and dashes to escape. The shadowy grey aura creeps out into the clearing and realizing its lost its easy kill sulks away, back to the rest of its wolf pack. A swirl of pure black and reds, against the browns blues and greens.
As you wander through this forest teeming with life, gawking at the mystic of the world though your new eyes, you notice a new color that you didn't see before. A dark purple mixed with pangs of bright gold and black. A slightly depressing mixture that's shape is obscured by some more unnaturally green bushes. As you stare at it starts to move, coming out from behind the plants. Your jaw would drop just at the size of this creature that's shape only can remind you of a dinosaur. If you could see in the normal spectrum that we see in, you would be even further amazed by it. The massive muscles rippling under its black, scaly armor, the wispy, fluffy, white tail billowing along behind as it walks and the horn as long as your arm protruding majestically from the top of its head. As you try to take it all in, the massive creature from a time long before continues on, not taking any notice of you as it lumbers off, deep in thought.
The auras can reveal many things. It can let you notice the sublet thoughts and emotions of things that you wouldn't normally be able to notice without knowing the person for years. It's a look on life that leaders and strategists would kill to have, but you just saw one part of it that people usually don't think about; Seeing the true sadness of other creatures and not just humans, but animals too. The rabbit, the bushes, the salamander, the deer, the wolf and the dinosaur all had their own distinct emotions and a reason or story behind each...
Welcome to Das Norden Wald
Chapter 2
Once again we look upon that dinosaur-like thing. It's actually a Domicornadon; a half mammal half reptile species that has warm-blood, and a furry tail but lays eggs and has scales. They originally were herbivores but for some reason started integrating into other animal's populations. Over time their numbers dwindles considerably and many branches went extinct. The ones that became part a part of wolf's packs have fared the best out of all the others. This particular one has hunted with his pack for all his life and has basically become a member of the wolf's culture.
~
"Hey! Damascus!! Come on and hurry up! There's a sick bull moose over in the north river's valley! Everyone's at the hunting rock to get ready!! Man, a sick bull, I'm drooling already! ... now, can I find some mud...?"
That's Belskurnous. He's the current beta wolf of our pack, the second in command, and also my hunting partner. He's an amazing hunter, strong and muscular, brave, quick thinking and aggressive. We're the ones the pack relies on to take down the big prey. We're jokingly called the Black Bane Brothers, "Boneskurnous" and "Doomaskus" because we move together as two black blurs. He hunts so well that he thinks of it more as recreation than a necessity for the pack. He enjoys hunting. ...Honestly I'm surprised he hasn't been killed yet.
"Ok 'Skorn. I'll be right there..." I said, rolling my eyes and shrugging him off. But he was already lost in his own anticipation of the hunt and running off toward the hunting rock so not to miss the briefing.
I started out for the rock myself since it naturally takes me a while longer to get places in these sometimes dense woods. I don't want to hold the pack up because they will defiantly need me for this one, whether it's really sick or not. A bull moose is a dangerous prey. We don't need the food right now. The pack's doing well enough but they never pass up such a feast as a moose, especially when it's sick.
As Damascus weaved his body between the tress and branches between him and the base of the hill the hunting rock was on, another wolf stepped from the brush and stealthily approached him.
"Hey, Dom. Ya ready?" a familiar voice rang out with little attempt to mask his enthusiasm.
"Hey, Träne. Why aren't you at the meeting? Is it over already?" I replied to my little, white furred, stalker. I don't even need to look to know its him. ...*snicker*...and it only takes a second to notice his spiky, brown hair, even if he's in the middle of the pack.
"Yeah Dom, ya missed it all. Ya know, ya should really think 'bout losin' some weight!" said the devilish little pup with a joking little sneer on his face as he playfully tried to push my leg and made an over exaggerated scene of getting nowhere with the attempt.
... Well I guess he's not a pup anymore. He's a year or 2 old now despite his carefree nature and innocent mind... I honestly have stopped keeping up with the ages of the wolfs in the last generation or so... I will outlive them all anyway...
"Hey! Remember, I WILL step on you, ya little bugger!" I said, nudging him into a bush with my foot while we were walking. It didn't slow him down very much. He just bounded back and continued on like nothing happened. "Ok. Well, lets get a move on so we don't hold everyone up. So what's going on and do I need to find some mud?"
I suppose I should explain the stuff about the mud. This pack I'm in is the mud n bloods. We are a bit infamous for our fighting because I am used to our full advantage and no wolf, no madder how strong he maybe doesn't stand a chance against my foot. The name comes from our come of war and hunting. It's really simple. If we are hunting an important meal we cover ourselves with mud to hide our colors. If we are going to war, we hunt an easy kill with our mud on and cover ourselves with its blood. It really must be intimidating seeing a line of blood soaked wolfs charging at you. Then there's me. Heh, I scatter them without even getting within range of striking. And after 5 wars those wolfs are smart to stay out of my way when I'm mad. Being 10 feet taller than everyone else does have its perks.
"Well, Trela was out scouting when she said smelled a moose. Said it smelled real sick. It's up by the north river. Everyone is real excited about gettin this thing, Dom. They were almost hysterical when they left! No mud required this time. Hey, when Was the last time this pack got a bull moose Dom?"
When was the last time we had got a bull moose? Hmmmmmm... I honestly can't remember, maybe once in my lifetime? It's no wonder these guys are so elated at the chance to claim this kill. This is like the stories they were told as pups. Like a fairy tale coming true...
"... Dom? Helllllllllllllllllooooooooooo......???" with that I snapped back to reality, and was met with the impatient eyes of the closest thing to a brother I had.
"...Wha-? Oh, sorry Träne. I zoned out for a second. Well, you guys haven't gotten one in a Long time, that's for sure. ... I can't remember the last time we got a Bull Moose. Maybe once in my life... Where did you say it was again?"
"By the northern river, at the bend." Said Träne nonchalantly
... that's the border to the territory of the old north pack ... damn...
"We better do this right or else it'll get away..."
"... Whada you mean Dom? ..." he said, turning to me a little perplexed.
"The north side of that river is Crilaline's Territory. If it goes across the river, we can't chase it. ...Even if it's just on the other bank."
Chapter 3
~"The north side of that river is Crilaline's Territory. If it goes across the river, we can't chase it. ...Even if it's just on the other bank."~
"... WHAT are you TALKING bout, Dom? Who is Crilaline? She part of some other pack or something?" said Träne, very much confused.
Oh, yes. That's right. Träne wouldn't know anything about her... It happened 7 years ago, I think. His father, Dew Claw hadn't even been born yet. ... I think I'm going to have trouble focusing on this hunt...
"She was the alpha of the northern pack many years ago. Before your time... she was an amazing alpha... She led her pack, Siberious, to true greatness. They were as powerful as we are now."
"Well, what happened to them? There hasn't been a pack to the north for years. ...did her pack have a... well, one of you?" he said cocking his head to one side then straightening it again for his last question. He always tilts his head when he's confused or perplexed. It's a habit he's had since he was a pup, just learning to communicate.
...I suppose it was a fair question. I should've seen it coming. Yet in all my 15 years of life, I can't remember a question that brought back as painful a memory as that one.
"Yeah, they had a Domicornadon, too. ...Know one knows what happened to the pack. They just disappeared one year without a trace."
"Did you know him?"
"... Her."
Träne did a double-take at that. He must not have been expecting that answer cause he shrunk himself after that.
"...Oh... I'm sorry, Dom..."
It was disarming how sincerely he said that. I wasn't mad at him but it did make me feel guilty for being so cold. He must have filled in the gaps. It wasn't like that, but ... I ... I almost wish it was. Because our pack is so powerful, the only other pack around here strong enough to support a Domicornadon was Crilaline's. And after... well, now the nearest member of my species is a few hundred miles west of our borders.
"Its fine, Träne. Lets pick up the pace a bit, ok? Lets not be the ones who hold up the hunt."
And with that all conversation stopped. I could tell by the look on Träne's face that he was trying to think of some way to try and make it up to me for raising the topic. He's a good kid. Always so willing to go out of his way to make things up to people. I hope he finds a good mate. He deserves at least that. Trela does too. She's Träne's sister and she's just as kind as her mother. She'll make a great mate for someone. I have to admit, she's real cute sometimes but the others never seem to notice. She also seems to have a liking for Belskurnous. I've found myself snickering quite a few times at her attempts to make him notice her. Man, he's clueless sometimes.
As we approached the river, I noticed Träne still was in a guilt-fueled funk. A nudge, a reassuring smile and a gesture towards the river seemed to snap him out of it. I know ill have to tell him more later to put it to rest in his mind but the thrill of the hunt will help him focus on other things.
We walked along the tree line trying to find the rest of the pack, but Träne spotted the bull first. Its strange how everyone reacts to a potential prey in the same way. The only variation is basically because of our different anatomies. For wolfs, they all hunch their shoulders, lay back their ears, and pull down their tails, but keep them rigid, ready to relay body language whenever needed. I on the other hand, lower my head and shake it a bit to wake up all my neck muscles, widen my stance, and curl my tail up. I really don't know why, but its just my habit of getting ready for a fight.
Because of our proximity to the bull, I couldn't keep up with Träne's agile little body and had to step carefully, avoiding any fallen twigs or branches. When you're as big as I am you need to use every precaution to be as stealthy as the wolfs... or at least stealthy enough not to warn the prey ahead of time.
"... Great. Now where'd he go? ..." I whispered to myself as I realized that Träne had lost me in the underbrush. "... I swear if I step on him, I'm not going to be sorry..."
"Dom!!! Shut Up!! Stop making that rumbling and watch where you're going!! You of all people should be aware when I'm around!!" came a hissed warning from the bushes by my foot.
It was Belskurnous this time who crept from the foliage to confront me. I had almost kicked him in my frustration with Träne for ditching me.
Maybe I should clarify something right now. When I was little my mother was the only other Domicornadon I knew... well... that's not true. I later met the Domicornadon of Crilaline's pack but that's beside the point. Because when I was little they were the only ones of my species I knew and my mother was the only one I had a lot of contact with, I learned the series of snorts grunts and bellows that made up our native language. None of the wolfs know it. So I also had to learn their language. In my mind they are the same thing. I never really made the difference in my mind between the 2 languages. I eventually figured it out after realizing the wolfs sometimes didn't have a clue what I was saying but I still sometimes forget and start talking to myself or others in Domicorn. That's what our language is called. So I suppose Skorn didn't catch the irony that I was complaining about accidentally stepping on Träne and accidentally kicked him. ... Man... this hunt really is bringing a lot of old memories back...
"I'm sorry, Skorn, I'm having real trouble focusing today. I mean I'm having REAL trouble. I literally JUST lost Träne in the same brush you were in."
Skorn turned to me and looked into my eyes for a second without a word. His expression was blank other than a little hint of concern and ... something ... I think fear. I don't know for sure. I didn't have time to really think about it because he then said,
"Just stay focused long enough to help me with the hunt. We won't be able to take this one down without you. I'm afraid some won't be able to get their share of This kill..."
Chapter 4
Deep in the heart of the Northern Woods, 2 white figures stand out against the fall colors. One the size of a small tree, the other, a small fox. The story these two share has been short, at least in the eyes of one, but it has been the sole thing that has let them survive. These two are inseparable.
"Hey Nebs? How did you learn wolf?" I asked her as we laid in the sun, enjoying the warm, lazy, feeling of a full belly.
"listened to you." She said nonchalantly.
"Seriously???"
" yeah, Lebs. You're the one who taught me to speak!"
"I just thought that gibberish was fox talk or something. Wow, I didn't realize I taught you so much. You should be callen me Mamma!" I said, teasing her a bit.
Nebel then lifted her head and stared at me with one eyebrow raised, which prompted me to quickly giggle and lay my head back down.
After thinking a bit I lifted my head and said to her, "Nebs?"
" Yes Mom?"she said in a very impatient and sarcastic way
"... I love you, you foxy little devil." I said, reaching out with my head and nudging her.
" love ya too, Leben. Now shut up. Im fat, happy and warm and I wanna take my nap."
"... grouchy pants..."
"... *fake snore* ..."
Maybe I bug her a bit much. Oh well. She defiantly returns the favor. We poke fun at each other so much that it's the main way we communicate. I don't know what I would've done without her. Nebel has really made things better in my life. She's been growing up so fast... I wish we aged the same... whatever. Let the digestion commence...
~
Chapter 5
~"... Just stay focused long enough to help me with the hunt. We won't be able to take this one down without you. I'm afraid some won't be able to get their share of This kill..."~
And with that foreboding remark Belskurnous turned and motioned for me to follow. it really sobered me up, the way he said it and he was right. There was a REASON that we haven't gone after bull moose in the last 15 years or so. And despite almost everyone on the hunting team being experienced with big prey, we ARE going to loose people. There are just too many ways this moose can take a few of us with him. I can feel the pressure rising that my performance will be what determines who many might get hurt.
As we got into position behind a protruding rock, I started trying to see where everyone else was. Since I missed the briefing I really have no clue as to how we're going to do this, and maybe I can figure out the plan if I figure out where everyone is.
Ok, there is Trela, creeping around a bush... ahh, there's Träne, too. ... Ummmm...I think I see ... yup I see Spruce Fur's distinctive light tan fur, so that means that Dew Claw is near by too. They are Träne and Trela's parents. They're probably making some final preparations or something. ... ummm...there's Lehm and Klee. ...Those lovebirds.... Oh, and there's Minze and Kälte. Now Minze a bit of a strange creature. She doesn't like being with a bunch of other people but isn't shy and personally loves individual interaction. She very smart too. ... Kälte is very reclusive. He is very hard to gain the trust of...
I still don't see everyone and they don't seem to be in any particular pattern. The are just spread out in their hunting pairs around the area. ... maybe Skurn will tell me...
"... hey, Skurn... I missed the brief. What's the plan here...?"
"shhh! ... ok... the pack is positioned all along the river here, when the signal is given you go out and bully the moose over to the shore so we can help bring it down. You will be responsible for doing most of the work unfortunately. Ill help where I can but I don't want to be trampled!" he said with a smirk.
"So what if..." I started to ask but was cut off by Dew Claw yipping three times. "Is that it?!?" I then said desperately turning to Skurn, who quickly nodded yes, it was the signal.
... God damn it. Not even a chance to think this through fully...
Just as I start to move Dew yipped again... he must be nervous to be that impatient for my response. I gave a snort and stomped the ground to tell him I'm going. As I immerged from the woods and stepped out onto the rock beach, the moose stopped eating and looked up. I puffed out my chest and roared as loud and low a tone I could. It made the ground shake and the moose take a step back. We were still a hundred feet away but I wanted that moose to not be comfortable with even that. I hunched my shoulders, shook my head, making SURE to make a scene of how my horn throws the balance of my head way up. Then, I charged head on and full out at it, trying to make it doge to one side or other so I could corral it back to the beach where the pack was lying in wait. But for some reason the thing just stood there as I charged, just staring at me with its huge eyes.
'Ok then, if he wants to hold still for me that's fine with me!' I thought to myself as I closed the distance between me and the moose. Then suddenly the moose widened his stance and lowered his own head. I didn't even slow down. I didn't realize it until then but this Bull was BIG!! It must have had 30 points on its antlers and they were wider than a wolf is long. ... I might get more hurt with this hunt than any one before...
As we collided the world slowed down and once again I gained the heightened awareness that Skurn seems to crave. I threw my shoulder right before I hit his antlers but he must have been smarter than I realized and side stepped while making sure the antlers kept me at bay. They more than kept me at bay though, they put this long gash down my left shoulder. I roared in indignation at the moose. I knew it would hurt like hell cause we were still in the river and that water was COLD!!!! I didn't feel the pain, for now at least but that wouldn't last long I bet. While his antlers were at my shoulder I took a swing at him with my horn and I scored a direct hit. It went in right behind his shoulder blade and through a bung of ribs. I must've hit some major organs, I can't see how I couldn't. Quickly, before he could slash me again, I jumped away from him, and started bellowing in his face and waving my head around. I want to get him to the shore, not kill him in the middle of the river. Also, I am trying to shake the blood away from my eyes. Having a giant spear on the TOP of you head can defiantly have some disadvantages.
Anyway, I charged again, making sure to hit the middle of the antlers. While he was still reeling I slammed the side of my head into his neck sending him stumbling in circles. With the third charge I was able to hit his flank dead on. It threw the Bull Moose 10 feet and he landed in the water on his back, something moose are not accustomed to.
While he was trying to regain his balance and get up I had a chance to asses how bad the cut was. ... It wasn't pretty. It was about 3 inches deep, and along almost the entire length of my upper arm... if not for the fact that I heal so fast and don't get sick often something like this could easily mean near death. It will be an impressive battle scar, that's for sure. It will stick out like a sore thumb until the scales can grow back over it.
While I was looking at the damage the moose got up and moved as fast as an internally bleeding moose with a concussion and maybe a broken leg can move. I did my part. The thing is mortally wounded and the rest of the pack can easily track it down. I didn't get out unscathed but it will heal. Besides, the pack will support me if for some reason this gets worse.
... Man, I'm tired now... and this cut is going to Fucking HURT!!!!
Chapter 6
~Nebel has really made things better in my life. She's been growing up so fast... I wish we aged the same... whatever. Let the digestion commence...~
...
"Leben! Wake up!!! Come on!!!"
...
... What...? ...Did I hear something...?
...
"LEBEN!! WAKE UP!!! PLEASE!!!" I felt a frantic pumping on my side...
Ok. Defiantly hear someone. ... Nebel... She sounds really freaked...
"... unnnggghhh? Nebel? ... whasit...? whas wong...?" I said trying to force my voice to work suddenly after that long deep sleep... At least I think it was long... anyway I do believe I failed miserably at it, slurring words and dropping syllables ... man that must have been an attractive sound...
"Leben. You NEED to get up! I heard something!" She said from on top of me. This wasn't an 'I heard an owl' kind of thing, I could tell.
"... Ok. Ok. I'm up. ... whats going on?" I said letting her slide down off my flank and then standing up.
"I was sleeping when I heard a sound. I didn't catch what it was but it woke me up. I listened a bit more and I heard it again! It was this loud, low, bellow. But it was quick... so sudden it scared me. Then like as soon as it stopped it started again. But this time it didn't seem like surprise... It was longer, louder... it sounded... like it was challenging something..." she babbled, looking around in a very panicked expression. I haven't seen her like this since... since she was a pup and afraid of the world.
"Ok, Neb. Let's go investigate. Let's be the ones to make the first move." I said realizing that this could be another opportunity to teach Nebs who to approach scary situations.
"... I don't know if we should go TOWARDS the thing that made the sound..."
"Yeah, but we should still at least figure out what it is. Come on. Aren't you excited that something big might be going on?!?" I jested, stretching out and walking in the direction Neb had gestured it had come from. I'm trying to spin the situation into something a bit more cheery and adventurous. I don't know how serious of a situation this is but I don't want to frighten Nebs if it's nothing.
"... I wouldn't say 'exited' in THAT sense, Lebs..." Was Nebel's apprehensive reply as she reluctantly caught up with me...
Chapter 7
~"While I was looking at the damage the moose got up and moved as fast as an internally bleeding moose with a concussion and maybe a broken leg can move. I did my part. The thing is mortally wounded and the rest of the pack can easily track it down. I didn't get out unscathed but it will heal. Besides, the pack will support me if for some reason this gets worse. ... Man, I'm tired now..."~
As I walked out of the water I heard Träne yell out in a panicked voice, "DOM!! DOM!!!!! ARE YOU OK?!? OH MY GOD, YOUR ARM!!!!!!!! GET OVER HERE, YOU NEED TO LIE DOWN!!!!!"
I looked to see where his voice was coming from because it wasn't close by. He was standing at the waterline on the far side of the river. Belskurnous was on the far side too. ... how'd they get over there?
Then it dawned on me. It was ME that was on the wrong side of the river. I had crossed the boundary. Even worse yet, the moose had ran here too. We won't be able to claim it now. No! Did I really just do that all for nothing? To have it slip away once it was on its final breaths?!?
As I realized this, Träne ran forward and leaped. Dew Claw and Belskurnous lunged to try and stop him but he slipped by. He landed in the water and then started swimming with all his might to cross. I knew the best thing to do was to just sit and wait for him. He was really scared about this cut. It probably looks a lot worse from the far bank.
Now most of the water had slipped off the arm and the blood trickled undiluted. It really did stand out against my black scales. Crimson on black. ... Oh well. I don't mind lying down for a while. ... and slowing down my pulse probably won't hurt the situation either.
"Träne! Don't hurt yourself!! I'm fine! It's not as bad as it looks!" I said, trying to calm him down a bit. Don't need anyone hurt AFTER the end of the hunt.
Träne wasn't having an easy time getting across either. Watching that nearly made me want to jump back in myself and let him crawl onto my back for the rest of the ride. It wouldn't help the situation of coarse and he'd just keep swimming next to me but the instinct was still there. I hated having to just sit and watch as he bobbed and bounced off of unseen rocks. He was having trouble even keeping his head above the water.
During Träne's desperate swim, I saw Dew Claw tell Belskurnous something and right away he dashed into the water himself. Dew then turned around and returned to the wood line to break the news to everyone that it got away, I assume. ... There still was one figure that remained on the shore line. I couldn't tell if it was Klee, Lehm, or Minze. It wasn't Trela, the fur was to dark to be her shade of brown. Whoever it was watched Träne and Skurn swim briefly then turned and disappeared in the bushes in the direction Dew Claw went in.
During Träne's desperate swim, I saw Dew Claw tell Belskurnous something and right away he dashed into the water himself. Dew then turned around and returned to the wood line to break the news that it got away, I assume.
I can feel some bruises starting to form and I'm starting to feel the pain of the cut, so I guess the adrenaline is ebbing off... this could be an experience crossing the river again. ... crossing the river... I forgot!!! I'm on Crilaline's side!!! God, I hope that no one can see us here. We might start another war... I couldn't fight if that happened... I refuse to fight even the descendants of Crilaline... if there are any...
"... god..."
...
"Domascous!!!! ... Oh my god, are you OK?!? Can ya walk? Can ya stand? How much does it hurt?!? Does it-"he said running over to me, eyes darting from the wound to my face.
"Whoa. Whoa. Calm DOWN Träne. Im fine..." I wasn't really but it wasn't terrible. "... it doesn't hurt too much and I can walk on it"
Well, it did hurt and it would probably hurt even more if I started moving, but Träne didn't need to know that right now. He was already running in circles with worry. Literally. I just have to calm him down until Skurn reaches the shore. Skurn was always good at talking sense into Träne.
"Ok... I'll calm down. ... Dom, are you going to be able to get across the river again?"
"Yeah, I'll be fine. Don't worry. I did it once I can do it again." Was my reassurance to him. by now Skurn was almost across the river.
Träne now paced a bit more then laid down beside me. I guess he figured out that he couldn't do anything and decided to stay with me till I could move on. Not too long after Belskurnous reached the shore and shook himself off. He then walked up to me in his fluid and graceful stride and asked me plainly...
"Dom, how bad is it?"
"Nothing to be overly worried about, Skurn. It's not deep, just long and shallow. It looks a lot worse than it is."
He took that in for a second and seemed to be weighing his options for a minute or so.
"Are you going to be able to continue?"... wait, WHAT DID HE SAY?!?
"... continue...?" I said vying to raise my eyebrow and gawk at him instead of projecting my thoughts. Träne was doing the same thing except with both eyebrows.
"...Yeah..." He said with an awkward pause quickly following
"CONTINUE?!?! SKURN! HIS LEG IS PROFUSLY BLEEDING!! HIS LEFT LEG IS RED INSTEAD OF BLACK AND YOU ASKING HIM TO KEEP HUNTING?!?!?!?!?!"
... Träne lost it...
"HEY! IM NOT THE ONE ASKING HIM TO, OK?!? ...It was Dew Claw. He isn't sure the moose is weak enough yet to try and bring it down without someone getting hurt or killed. I said the SAME THING to him but he said to try and ask you to go at it one more time..." was snapped back at Träne with a heavy tone of concern at the end. Belskurnous was obviously just as concerned about me as Träne was. He isn't stupid. He has very good common sense and logic but, still, he isn't a philosopher.
"its fine Träne." I said to calm him down. He's really stressed, I can tell. He at least listened to me and backed down. I started to consider my response to Dew Claw's wishes and I call it thus because I know that if there was any chance I could continue he would really push me to help finish the hunt.
As I was thinking over whether or not I wanted to get up and chase down the moose with the rest of the pack, I thought of something... Dew Claw was going to CHASE DOWN the moose. The moose ran, on its dying breaths, over the border into Crilaline's Territory!! WHAT THE HELL IS HE THINKING?!?!?
Chapter 8
~"... I wouldn't say 'exited' in THAT sense, Leb...." Was Nebel's apprehensive reply as she reluctantly caught up with me...~
"Lebs. We've been walking in the same direction for at least a mile and a half. Can we just go back now??" I said in my utter frustration.
This day is really starting to suck, ya know? At first it was great! Me and Lebs had caught a deer, and she let me have the thighs, the BEST part if you ask me! ... ummmmm they were tough and lean, just how I like them too. Then we got her some plants and stuff to satisfy her god given desire for greens and found a nice, soft bed of leaves and dirt to bask in the sun and sleep our feast off. It was SOOO comfortable there!!!! ...Wait... did she respond?
"Lebs? Hey! Leben!?!?! ... great.... Im all alone now... I HATE IT WHEN YOU CANT KEEP UP!!!" I shouted into the tree lined abyss... and it felt oddly satisfying.
Chapter 9
~As I was thinking over whether or not I wanted to get up and chase down the moose with the rest of the pack, I thought of something... Dew Claw was going to CHASE DOWN the moose. The moose ran, on its dying breaths, over the border into Crilaline's Territory!! WHAT THE HELL IS HE THINKING?!?!?
...Ok. We are obviously not on the same page here. This has to be settled now.
I got up a little too quickly and my leg almost gave out from the sudden stabbing pain, but I caught myself and yelled across the river to Dew Claw.
"DEW CLAW!!!!!"
It was probably a bit louder than I meant. Träne nearly jumped out of his skin, Skurn winced and laid back his ears and Dew Claw's head popped out of the bushes immediately. Even from across the river I could tell he was startled ... Maybe the adrenaline hadn't completely worked itself out yet.
"Domascus! Are you ok?!?"
" WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING, DEW CLAW?!?!? YOU CAN'T BRING THE HUNTING PARTY OVER HERE!!! I SHOULDN'T EVEN BE OVER HERE!!!!!!!!! THIS IS CRILALINE'S TERRITORY!!!!!!!!!!!!"
It was a little harder to see this reaction from this distance and his words were just as hard to discern but it seemed like he was taken aback and said something like," What are you talking about???"
"DEW! THIS ISN'T OUR LAND!!! IT WOULD BE AN ACT OF WAR TO FOLLOW THE MOOSE NOW!!!!!"
"...Dom! You need to Lay Down!! We'll be over in a minute to help you back!!"
"NO!!!! DIDN'T YOU HEAR ME?!?!? WE CAN'T GO OVER HERE!!!!!!!!"
"Just relax! Don't worry about the old borderline! No one's lived in those woods for generations!" ... that struck a chord... it was a painful truth I've been ignoring for years but it never seems to go away...
"...Besides, that moose isn't going to get far! We'll just finish it off and bring it back to the den!" with that he turned and went back into the woods. Dew Claw was starting to promise things that he couldn't control but I let it go. I layed back down again, just wanting this to be done with. This whole hunt was just rubbing salt into an old wound that won't heal. ... I want to go take a nap somewhere and forget about this... maybe I can sneak off once they leave to chase the moose down...
Minze was approaching from my left as I sat back down with a maelstrom of emotions on her face and dripping wet. They must have found an easier place to cross because she isn't as good a swimmer as Skurn and Träne. As she looked from Belskurnous to Träne to me her face started to harden again and hide her emotions, but as she made eye contact with Träne her face softened again for a split second. It was too quick to figure out what she was thinking but it had something to do with Träne...
... "Domascus, are you ok?"
"I am, Minze. Thanks for asking" I said it the most hearty smile I could muster. I don't know if she saw through it or accepted it but she smiled with equal warmness and turned to Skurn and Träne.
"Come on boys, Dew Claw wants us to catch up with everyone else. They're all ready across the river and heading out for the moose." She said with an uncharacteristically playful smile. The prospect of this moose must really mean something to these guys. She never is like that when there is more than one other person around. I wasn't expecting that response at all.
Skurn spoke up with a slightly perplexed look on his face, "Dew Claw wants me to go to?" there was a nod "...b-but I never hunt without Dom!" he protested like he just couldn't grasp the concept.
"Its fine Skurn, I've gotten my share of the hunt today. Its time you get yours. I'll just lay here and take a nap. Once the bleeding stops ill come find you all and help bring the thing back to the den ok?" I said seeming to even fall for my own facade. I don't know why I was in such a happy mood all of a sudden. I guess I was starting to get caught up in the general sense of jubilation. ... I had just had fought one of the biggest animals in my life, I have a gaping, bleeding slash down my left shoulder and upper arm and I'm happy about it? ...weird...
Anyway, Skurn seemed satisfied with what I said and he smiled at me and nudged Träne. Träne glanced back at me but didn't say anything. He was still concerned about leaving me but he turned around and caught up Minze and Skurn, taking his place in between them. As they rounded a bend in the shoreline I saw Minze push Träne into Skurn who stumbled, not expecting to be hit. Träne's tail perked up and he retaliated just as I lost sight of them. ... it was heartwarming to see Minze so bold and happy...it was like she was another person entirly.
I sat just for a little bit, taking in the peaceful surroundings. ... it is strange how fast the land returns to normal after what MUST have been an impressive fight... birds are chirping, the squirrels are coming out of their trees again and there is even a rabbit on the far shore. Don't they realize the whole pack is within earshot of me? They could come back at any second and that would be the end for these small woodland animals.
... Maybe they don't recognize the danger... they might not realize that these larger mammals could easily eat them.... It did happen long ago in the eyes of the forest. It does make sense... No. stop not thinking about it.... but I am going to eventually... I just know it... *sigh*... this day has put me at such odds with myself... maybe I should try to come to terms with the memories, instead of suppressing them. It's been 7 years and the memories still haven't gone away, so maybe I should try something else.
I was starting to think too much so I decided to get up and walk around a bit. The cut was nowhere near scabbed over but I didn't care. It's not like I was going to bleed out or anything, a ton and a half of muscle and bone can hold a good amount of blood.
... Now... let's take a peaceful walk through the forest and a wretched stroll down memory lane...
...owch...
... damn that moose...
After reading through this i remembered the rest of the story was never posted and sadly i lost my writing when my last laptop died.
there is a lot about this story i want to rewrite but i dont have time to do so now. i hope to write more but Senior Year has a way of taking away the things you want but don't need.