shark bait [orion!]

[rotwhyler]

TABOO LOCKLIE the sea is just a wetter version of the skies

For around two days Taboo had been sulking on the beach of Shore Woods, her hind leg bleeding, scabbing up, and then getting jostled just enough to bleed again. They were hungry, and sick, but still, they approached nobody. Pack wolves had come and gone, but she hadn't even tried to strike up conversation with them, or ask them for help. Simply put, she was humiliated. Always and forever Taboo had been an independent soul, not ever needing or wanting to ask for help. She didn't trust anybody could do a better job than her at most things, but now, after lying on this beach injured, she started to rethink this way of thinking. If she had only asked for help initially she'd probably already be up and at 'em again, maybe not hunting quite so well, but up and at 'em at the least! Instead, she'd been moping. Her fur was covered in gritty sand as was her wound, which stung with each strained movement of her leg. Taboo whined as she readjusted her position on the beach, just trying to stretch out a little, and came to a conclusion: she needed help. There was no way she'd survive this wound if she didn't get help, at least someone to bring her food. Company would be nice to, but food was more urgent in Taboo's mind. Painfully, she rose to a sitting position, leaning heavily to the not wounded side of her body. A look to the left and a look to the right told her nobody was on the beach this early in the morning. It could be hours before anyone showed up again, which gave Taboo a heavy feeling of helplessness. She hated this feeling, being unable to care for herself, like she was a pup again. Being a pup was the worst time of her life, and now that she's free, she's fucked! Suddenly angry, she curls her lips back and swipes a paw at the sand, sending a shower of grits cascading just a couple feet away from her. Once the sand settled, she squinted and saw a figure approaching. Her heart sank - this is what she wanted, maybe, but she wasn't quite ready to face someone seeing her like this. Heika

[Heika]

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we'll burn it down and then,
we'll build the world again

rotwhyler
612 words
/insert jaws theme

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Orion was in a pleasant mood as he traveled along his way. In his mouth, he carried the still-warm body of a rabbit. The prey animal’s creamy fur was still clean, free of any crimson stains, and Orion satisfied with the clean kill. Though finesse was hardly necessary in a hunt, he felt that the challenge it added was what made it truly fun. Otherwise, it would have been much, much too easy.

This was his first day in this territory, and, while Orion had originally rolled his eyes at the pack’s scent markers, strolling right on by without a second thought, he had warmed up to the area. Settling down was, and would never be, part of his plans. But, that didn’t mean he could not see how it appealed to others. As foolish a dream it was – meant for wolves with less of a backbone than he – he had to admit that Shore Woods was almost as perfect as they came. The land was rich, buzzing with wildlife, and water was plentiful, nothing like the deserts in the west. Wolves here would want for nothing because everything they could ever hope for was right under their noses. Even the daftest creature could survive here, where, if they asked, so shall they receive. Shore Woods was a land that existed right in Mother Nature’s bosom, nourished by her love and never a subject of her wrath; truly, the spoilt youngest pup no one had asked for, and, yet, there it was.

How sickening.

Ears perking up, he paused as he caught the sound of waves in the distance. It was the first time he had ventured so far east, and, though he had heard stories of the coastline here, he had yet to see it for himself. Curiosity piqued, he trotted in the direction of the ocean, picking up on hints of salt water over the musk of the rabbit. Eagerly, he grinned as the dirt underfoot gradually transitioned into grainy sand, and the trees began to thin out until they disappeared altogether. Plunging into the sunlight, view no longer obstructed by vegetation, he gazed at the sprawling landscape before him. This beach was nothing like the cliffs of the Black Coast. Here, the sands were soft and inviting, and the sun was warm and gentle, a direct opposite of the jagged, unwelcoming rocks and frigid waves of the Coast. Everything here was so pleasant. It made his nose crinkle with distaste.

Padding towards the waves, he dipped his paws in them, watching as he left an imprint in the wet sand, but quickly lost interest. There was nothing more to see here, nothing worth noting, nothing worth his atten-

There was a movement in the corner of his eye. Turning his head, he caught sight of another wolf on the beach, and Orion found that he was being forced to eat his words.

Perhaps there was something of interest here after all.

Turning gracefully in spite of his bulk, he made his way towards the other wolf, watching it with a critical gaze. Its short, aborted movements hinted at an injury, one that left it completely vulnerable. And here he was, approaching with what was now a peace offering. But he shouldn’t drop his guard; wild animals were at their most dangerous when they were trapped between a rock and a hard place. It would not do to slip up and let such a perfect sacrifice slip away, not when it promised some amusement and he was just starting to get bored.

“Greetings,” he called out amicably, voice slightly muffled by the rabbit he carried. “How are you faring, stranger?”

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[rotwhyler]

Taboo, to her horror, was no longer alone on this beach. The stranger approaching made her fur stand on its end and an uncomfortable blanket of nerves settled itself on top of her. Something about him was...off. He wasn't right. But, to her dismay, she was stuck there.

And then he spoke.

It was off-putting to hear the noise come from his jaws. His voice was friendly, not at all befitting of his physical impression. One of Taboo's ears flicked and she eyeballed him warily, although more of her attention was on the rabbit dead in his teeth. The sight of it was enough to cause some salivation, but the smell of it really caught her off-guard. Embarrassed after licking her chops, so obviously staring down the dead animal, she cleared her throat and turned her head dismissively. Because of instinct, she tried to concave and hide the fact that she was injured, but the dried blood that matted her fur down around the wound was enough to give it away, not to mention the fact that he could probably smell it through the surrounding sea salt. His words were proper, almost too proper, but she had no choice to partake in the conversation, for exiting was barely an option. For once, she had very little to say.

"Faring? I'm hardly faring, as of current. Yourself, kind sir?" She copied his amicable demeanor almost sarcastically, but meant it rather genuinely. Perhaps she was too quick to judge, as she often is, and this brute is truly a kind soul? Once again, her eyes trailed to the rabbit, unable to keep them off it.

[Heika]

[googlefont="Lato:400;Raleway:400;"]

we'll burn it down and then,
we'll build the world again

rotwhyler
364 words
ahh sorry this took so long! it was difficult getting my muse to cooperate

[attr="class","didtext"]
Stopping a respectable distance away, Orion watched her curiously, attempting to puzzle out her life’s history with that one look. There was a hint of bite in her tone. It signaled distrust and suspicion, the usual markers of a meeting with a stranger, nothing particularly off-putting or worrisome. As long as a wolf had even the slightest semblance of common sense, they would be wary of wolves they were unfamiliar with, and that was a natural defense mechanism Orion could all too easily defeat. All he had to do was bide his time and tread carefully. He would get her to lower her guard, and everything after that would be smooth sailing.

But, first things first. The stranger’s lingering glances at the rabbit he carried did not go unnoticed. That would be his first move. “How unfortunate,” he murmured, offering her a disarmingly charming grin. “I’m doing quite well. Thank you for asking.”

Swiftly, he inspected her once again now that he was closer. Her flank was matted with blood, and there were salt crystals flecking her pelt. Though she was mostly dry at this point, all hints pointed at her having been injured on a swim. Eyes flickering out to the calm ocean, Orion stared at the waves for a moment, watching as the waters dragged lethargically at the sands. The sea was such a deceitful creature, hospitable one moment and violent the next. All its calm was nothing more than a ruse, a way to lure victims into its grasp. Then, waiting just beneath the surface, there was a myriad of dangers hidden within its depths. Perfected over the eons, this practice worked time and time again, catching the eye of romantic fools and dragging them to a watery grave.

Though Orion found no beauty in the way the waters shimmered in the sunlight, found no joy in the seafoam, he had never thought the ocean lovelier than in this moment.

“My name is Orion,” he spoke, turning his attention back to the injured stranger. He nudged the rabbit forward, letting its limp body drag in the sand. “Here, if you’re hungry. It must be difficult to hunt on a wounded leg.”

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