Bird of Omens, Ill harbinger of blight
His heart thundered within his ears as he takes another careful step forward. The opossum before was oblivious to his presence while it snacked on what smelled like a deceased mouse. Two for one, the thought sent warmth straight through him. Life was good to him since leaving the band of wolves a few years ago, the parting bitter sweet for they had raised him well. He knew the basics to loner life and he knew how to hunt well enough to keep from starving. As it was he was healthy yet he was not filled out like a normal well fed wolf would be. His lush fur hid that fact though, his winter coat coming in and causing him to look larger than he was.
Ears twitch as the rodent stills in its movements, causing the breath within his lungs to swell into an improbably lump. It couldn’t very well sense him could it? A swift mental check reassures him that his scent is well covered by his romp through pine and a rosemary patch. He even made sure to check his physical positioning in regard to the wind, he was well within the safety parameters…so what could it be? Irritation blossoms yet he knows not to let it take control, instead he locks his muscles as to appear as stone, his face an impassive onyx stone. Eyes, so light a blue, they sparkle against the impenetrable background of his face like the stars on a clear night. His face is one of the most striking places besides his front legs around the paws, front of chest, and his right back leg because those were the only places on his bodice that held his inky black color. So black was it that it was almost iridescent at times with the shine that held. The rest of his pelt held a brilliant brindle in the hues of both light and dark grey and white.
Seconds turn into minutes but he is patient, his body screaming at him for release. Each and every muscle radiate pain, his teeth clamped shut with the effort it took to hold his body in such a position for so long but determination won out. He could not remember when he had last eaten during the trip to this lush and thriving land so this pain was much preferable to the one that gnawed at him day in and day out. This pain he could control, and he would, yet he was still grateful when the rodent resumed its eating. You could almost sense his relief when he took his next and last step before spurting forward. His pounce was graceful and precise as he landed upon the opossum, the creature’s snarl deafening in his ear.
Warmth spreads across his cheeks as the ugly little thing retaliates, eliciting a rough growl to rumble within the boys chest. Without preamble he cuffs the creature’s head with his paw, following through with placing his other paw on the animal’s throat. Staring down into the opposum’s rage filled eyes he could not stop his lips from parting, his deep vocals spilling forth in response to the animals will to survive.
”I thank you for giving me another day to live. May you travel forth to the stars safely and quickly.”
With that he lowers his head to end its life when another sound reaches his ears, one far more serious than the one that grumbles from his midsection. Lifting his head he releases a long and deep snarl, warning the intruder not to interfere as he glares into the shadows of the trees. From experience he knows that the shelter the woodland provides is a double edged sword that could as easily provide an avenue of attack as it does safety.
”Show yourself.”
It wasn’t a request, it was very much a command for the way of life he knew…asking was for subordinates.
The Raven waits with vengeance in his sights