|
|
Post by *Kittlez. on Sept 3, 2012 6:29:55 GMT -5
The strong, afternoon sun lay dormant in the sky, nestled in the wake of wispy clouds, of pearly white and darker, more threatening grey, threaded across the vast expanse of azure, almost as perfect as a dream. Liberation thrummed on the very air itself, like a beautiful wavelength, shaken by the thundering of paw steps on brittle, dry earth of the forest, leaves unsettled by the splitting of the air floating back down through freedom.
A small, but strong looking russet she-wolf stopped her journey just shy of a rocky precipice, eyeing the wooden bridge that was carelessly strung from one side of the chasm to the other, seeming to cringe as she watched it sway, as if nervous, as the breeze pushed against it. That... didn't look safe...
But she knew all too well that the best prey lay on the other side of the National Park, and if she and her companion - who seemed to have lagged behind a little somewhere during Peri's little adrenaline and freedom fuelled run - were planning to hunt for their lunch, then that was their best bet.
Looking over her shoulder, eyes glinting with a mixture of foolhardy excitement and a particular feeling of 'Oh God, I'm going to die', she waited for Will to catch up, now panting a little, wishing they could just get across this scary looking bridge and get it over with. The scent of water was hitting her nose head on from somewhere amongst the trees on the other side, and Peri's thirst was beginning to overtake her - she really would need to stop for a drink at some point or another.
At least that was the only worry she currently had. The two of them - for once - had come prepared this time, clothes stuffed into a duffel bag that Peri had hidden tactfully under a pile of leaves at the base of a tree, back close to the park entrance not too far down the road from the complex where they both lived. So there would be no awkwardly shuffling back nude, or covered with whatever they could find in the wild...
Not that Peri knew of any wolf who had before.
|
|
|
|
Post by Snaggle on Sept 3, 2012 12:57:23 GMT -5
Pausing a little way behind, the slight rise of a hill the only thing between him and his running companion, the small brown wolf sniffed at the air, allowing a slight breeze to run through his fur and flick back his ears.
As a human, it was easy to tell that thinking about this side of him scared him, possibly more than even the stammer and the nerves showed. But as a wolf, although still small and hesitant, William found himself not caring anymore; he was more capable in this form and, like it or not, it was a side of him he was more comfortable to be in.
The scents and sounds of the place swirled around him, causing him to give a little bark of excitement as he continued his trot up the hill to meet Peri.
This was all certainly more enjoyable when one knew they had clean and reachable clothes to come back to afterwards...
|
|
|
|
Post by *Kittlez. on Sept 5, 2012 11:53:50 GMT -5
Grinning pointedly at William as he finally fell into line beside her, Peri turned her attention back to the first, spindly looking wooden slat on the bridge, visibly shuddering. She then peered to one side of the bridge, observing the valley below, seeming to fade into an obscure blur of rocks, with a thin stream running through it. Her chances of hitting the stream were apparently not very high...
"There should be plenty of small, fluffy creatures we can happily snack on over that side of the park... We just need to... cross that... bridge."
She eyed it wearily. Placing an uncertain paw on the bridge, she began to inch her weight onto it, shying away a little as it creaked loudly. Peri wasn't afraid of many things, that could certainly be said, but sadly... heights was one of them. Skittering back a few steps, she feigned an awkward giggle.
"Uh... go ahead, you lead the way..."
|
|
|
|
Post by Snaggle on Sept 5, 2012 14:24:48 GMT -5
William stared at Peri's sudden apparent reluctance to cross the bridge, his own nerves dulled somewhat by the enticing nature of the woods beyond.
Although, murmured the small human part of him, that bridge certainly did not look safe...Not to mention rather bloody high up in the air.
He met Peri's little nervous laugh with one of his own, punctuated by a short bark.
I-if...If you like...
He padded past her own trotted a few steps onto the little bridge. His stomach turning somersaults as he glanced down at the gap below, a small whimper escaping his throat as he tried to keep his mind on the woods beyond, not to mention entertaining the image of himself being brave in front of Peri.
That little idea gave him a small dose of courage.
|
|
|
|
Post by *Kittlez. on Sept 8, 2012 4:22:41 GMT -5
Grinning a little to herself at the show of courage, Peri waited a second or two, noting that Will did seem to be still alive and on the bridge safely, before taking a deep breath and following suit, edging fairly close behind her companion, ears twitching a little nervously at the various creaks and cracks that accompanied their steps.
They would be fine. The bridge wasn't going to break, they would get to the other side, alive and well. Of course-
'Crrrreeeeeeeeeeeeaaaakkkkkkkkkkk.'
Peri yelped loudly at the long, almost pained noise that came from the bridge, almost flattening herself to the bridge in a fashion that seemed all too human, whimpering. Well, that was both her courage and her dignity out of the window... Peri didn't like to remember the fact that she, like most others, had at least one great fear, and this was her's. Heights.
|
|
|
|
Post by Snaggle on Sept 8, 2012 12:32:30 GMT -5
Turning hurriedly at Peri's sudden yelp, fangs bared, William found himself face to face with one very terrified Peri; her ears pressed flat against her head, a soft whimper coming from her lips.
William blinked.
She was terrified...
Trotting up to her as gently as he could, suddenly aware of the sudden slightly swaying motion of the bridge, William gazed across at Peri with large, concern filled eyes.
A-are you alright?
Although he knew it wasn't all she was, it still rather unnerved William slightly to see Peri in anything other than a loud, rambunctious mood.
|
|
|
|
Post by *Kittlez. on Sept 9, 2012 6:31:05 GMT -5
Looking up at Will, almost as if she'd forgotten that she wasn't alone on the bridge, Peri blinked a few times, before straightening up awkwardly, making a low noise in her throat that almost sounded like a cough. Averting her gaze in the most haughty fashion she could manage, fur still bristled with worry, she quickly slipped past Will, trying to appear a lot braver than she felt.
I'm... I-I'm fine. It's just... a creaky bridge...
Truthfully, she wasn't fine, she was scared half to death and they hadn't even made it halfway yet. Taking a deep breath, she squeezed her eyes shut, figuring that if she couldn't see that she was on a rickety old bridge, she might not be quite so... terrified. Quickening her pace, she trotted awkwardly across the wooden slats, occasionally stumbling where she couldn't see ridges and bumps along the way.
She couldn't have Will seeing her softer side yet, after all... That just wasn't like her.
|
|
|
|
Post by Snaggle on Sept 10, 2012 11:57:02 GMT -5
still gazing at her with concern, William turned to trot after the she-wolf, his ears down and tail hanging slightly between his legs.
He wanted to help her whenever she tripped, nuzzle her softly or tell her that it was quite alright to be scared.
William was a master at being terrified, after all.
But he kept his head down, seeing that it was quite fruitless to push the subject; even after only a few days, he knew that Peri would not be approached on a subject she did not want to talk about, or seen to be effected by.
His ears pricked up with relief as he saw that they had nearly reached the other side of the bridge; the woods beyond now at a tangible distance, and calling invitingly once more.
|
|
|
|
Post by *Kittlez. on Sept 16, 2012 9:38:01 GMT -5
Finally daring to open one eye a crack, Peri was nothing short of surprised to see that - contrary to her horrified thoughts - there was only three more slats of wood, before the bridge tailed off into beautiful, glorious sloping grassland, filled with the scents of water, prey, trees and all other kinds of nature-y goodness.
Tail wagging, Peri took a moment to mentally prepare herself, breathing in heavily, before sprinting as fast as her paws could carry her over the final stretch of the bridge, almost letting out a howl of victory at the fact she'd managed to brave such a thing. Trotting around in the grass as if on parade, she caught sight of the bridge once more, and slowed to a halt, an overall awkward look overwhelming her features.
That... was actually quite a short bridge. Mouth pressed in a tight line, Peri growled a little that sounded similar to the way a human would clear their throat, and gestured to the general direction of what she could sense to be a nearby lake, a little too embarrassed to meet Will's gaze.
Uh... let's go have a drink before we hunt...
With that, she headed off through the trees, mentally kicking herself at the thought that she'd acted like such a wimp in front of Will... Then again, why was she so concerned about impressing him in the first place? Shaking her head slightly, she began the sloping decline into the clearing where the edge of the lake lay, relieved by the sight of clear, clean water lapping against the rocks.
|
|
|
|
Post by Snaggle on Sept 16, 2012 9:49:09 GMT -5
Having paused in surprise, one leg lifted slightly in step, as Peri dashed past him to the safety of the grass and rocks on the other side of the bridge, William watched as the other wolf strutted triumphantly across the soft ground before turning to him.
He smiled weakly, glad to see that the scared, haughty look at gone from her eyes and posture. She looked happy, if not slightly shaken.
Quickly putting his paw back down again, William trotted over the last few boards of the bridge and hurried to join Peri, nodding at her request as he drew near.
I-If you like..
The irony of the statement and the events of the past week did not escape him as he scurried a few steps behind Peri, following the scent of water and rocks.
It was almost funny, he decided.
|
|
|
|
Post by *Kittlez. on Sept 16, 2012 10:27:21 GMT -5
Trotting down to the water's edge, Peri cautiously touched her maw to the surface, shivering a little as the cool liquid swept across her fur, before lapping it down, finding herself instantly relaxed as her thirst was quenched.
Taking a few steps into the water, Peri relished the feeling of the water swirling around her fur, letting her previous worries and concerns melt away, her previous confident aura returning. Glancing over her shoulder at Will, she grinned pointedly, leaping through the water towards him, showering him in droplets and splashes, a chuckle-like growl escaping her lips.
Sure, it was childish, but Peri was having fun, she couldn't care less if it was thought immature.
|
|
|
|
Post by Snaggle on Sept 16, 2012 10:45:48 GMT -5
Letting out a little yelp of surprise as Peri leapt towards him through the water, showering his brown fur with drops and splashes of cool water, William tried to flick a hand up to shield himself before realizing that the hand was currently a paw and that his leg...
...Was not made to lift up in that way.
Thus unbalanced, William wavered before stumbling with a loud splash into the shallow water of the lake. Ears flicking, embarrassed, he lifted his dripping head to glance up at Peri.
heh...s-sorry...
|
|
|
|
Post by *Kittlez. on Sept 16, 2012 13:01:31 GMT -5
Finding herself suddenly drenched with water, with a semi-submerged Will toppled over in front of her, Peri blinked in surprise, before shaking herself violently in a feeble attempt to dry herself off, crystalline droplets flying in every direction, sending ripples through the water around her.
Think fast!
Chuckling in a deep, throaty growl, Peri allowed the playful pup within her take hold, crouching low with her rear in the air, before pouncing on Will, sending the two of them tumbling into the water, wanting to get Will back for drenching her with that tumble of his.
Momentarily submerged, she reared from the water, shaking her head with a practically howled laugh, trying to see through the sheen of water over her eyes.
|
|
|
|
Post by Snaggle on Sept 18, 2012 1:18:09 GMT -5
Another louder yelp escaped William's throat as the full weight of Peri pounced on him, pushing him further and deeper into the water with another loud splash.
Struggling to pull himself towards the surface, he managed to pull himself upright to gaze, hurt, up at Peri for a moment before the adrenaline demanded he do something about this injustice.
Ears perking up and tail wagging feverishly in the shallows, he leapt back at Peri with all his, small, strength, his yelp becoming a playful bark.
|
|
|
|
Post by *Kittlez. on Sept 22, 2012 7:31:48 GMT -5
Letting out yaps and barks that could only be described as childish laughter, Peri ended up being flung into slightly deeper water as Will threw himself at her, the two wolves rolling slightly until Peri's head dipped below water, doing somewhat of an awkward doggie paddle to try and stay above, her laughs still sending ripples through the water, finding the whole situation rather funny.
The two of them were soaked to the bone now, but the sun was still warm enough to make it pleasant, Peri attempting to paddle awkwardly around in the water, one of the few acts that genuinely would be easier as a human. Hunger pangs suddenly struck her and she turned to Will, grinning at the sight of him; fur plastered to his skin and dripping wet, and yet just as playful and amused as she was.
Perhaps a meal would be nice after our little swim?
She giggled, her paws finally touching upon the slippery rocks at the bed of the lake, trotting up onto dry land before shaking herself violently, water flying in all directions. Once she was done, her pelt a fair bit fluffier than before, she looked back at Will expectantly, grinning. |
|
