private City of Outcasts

[Alex Kennedy 1,228]

@,

Raptor followed Syl- taking care to move silently- until he was able to see the rabbits nearby. He watched her claws sliding out as she prepared to strike, waiting for his signal. His gaze followed the rabbits until they wandered just close enough to where they were lying in wait before he whispered to her. "Go." This was her first prey, and he would let her take it alone.

Edited August 26, 2013 by Alex Kennedy

[Pripyat Pony 2,608]

@@Alex Kennedy,

 

"In that case," Diego replied. "Maybe we ought to ask him about them. I go to that bar a lot. Drinking helps me forget about how bad my life is. A cliche, I know, but so true. I just hope that there won't be another fight in the bar. I really hate it when ponies have to start fights and interrupt my precious drinking time."

[Minath Khalsi 195]

@@Alex Kennedy,

 

Syl pounced on two of the rabbits, taking them down in a single swipe. She quickly slit their throats to let the blood drain out, as she had learned in Azeroth. Raptor may or may not do it like that, but it's how she was taught.

 

She turned back to where Raptor was, both rabbits in her paw and a big goofy grin on her face.

[Alex Kennedy 1,228]

@,

 

Raptor smiled. She had done perfectly. "Good work, Syl. That was beautifully done. But of course, I should expect nothing less from one with as much obvious potential as you. I'm proud of you, Syl. I really am." He then surprised himself by reaching out and hugging her, without even realizing he was doing it. 

@@Pripyat Pony,

 

Scurry nodded. "I can understand the need to drink. It's just about all we can do to forget the troubles of life in this place. Anyway, I doubt there would be a fight this early in the day. Most of the more aggressive folks are out hunting and such." Scurry headed towards the bar, assuming Diego would follow.

[Pripyat Pony 2,608]

@@Alex Kennedy,

 

Diego did. He was already looking forward to a tankard of strong cider, the first for the day. "You don't mind if I hang out with you for the moment?" he asked Scurry. "It seems that a lot of the denizens of the city don't like to be around me cuz they think that just cuz I'm a pony, my life is perfect and I don't need to be here."

[Alex Kennedy 1,228]

@@Pripyat Pony,

 

Scurry shrugged. "Sure. I can understand. I've never gotten along very well with other Diamond Dogs, so I know what it's like not to fit in. And you seem like a pretty nice pony. So I don't mind if you want to hang around me for a while. I could use the company anyway." 

[Pripyat Pony 2,608]

@@Alex Kennedy,

 

"I can be nice, sometimes. Just that others don't usually give me a chance to show it," Diego said as he walked alongside Scurry to the bar. The bodies that had lain around the previous night were all gone, either from leaving of their own accord or being hoofed out.

[Minath Khalsi 195]

@@Alex Kennedy,

 

Syl was happy when Raptor said he was proud of her, and even happier when he hugged her, albeit slightly confused. She hugged him back anyway.

 

"Thank you Mok'nathal. This is the first time someone said they were proud of me." Syl said, her eyes watering slightly.

 

Don't you dare cry in front of Raptor.

[Alex Kennedy 1,228]

@,

 

Raptor noticed she was starting to tear up and his face softened further. "I am proud of you. Very, very proud." He pressed her closer to him. He didn't know what had come over him lately, but he just felt closer to her than he ever had with anybody else, even his own family. No, that wasn't exactly right. She was his family now.

 

@@Pripyat Pony,

 

Asteron looked up as two customers walked in; the chaos pony from the day before, and that Diamond Dog who lived outside of town. "Good afternoon, fellas. Can I get you anything?"

Edited August 29, 2013 by Alex Kennedy

[Minath Khalsi 195]

@@Alex Kennedy,

 

That pushes Syl over the edge and she started silently crying. She heard Raptor's heartbeat, a sound she had grown to love. Most animals identify other animals by face, but Syl knew Raptor's heartbeat as good as her own now.

 

Pulling back from the hug, Syl wiped away her tears of happiness.

 

"So, I smell deer droppings. Still warm. In the mood for deer?" She said, sniffling and smiling.

 

I should have started hunting long ago if it makes Raptor this happy.

[Alex Kennedy 1,228]

@,

 

Raptor just held onto her as she cried still smiling at her proudly. He had to admit that he was reluctant to let the hug end, and a part of him felt strangely empty afterwards. He didn't know what to make of that. "Deer, huh? That can be a tough hunt, not as easy to catch and bring down as those rabbits. Do you think you're up to it?"

[Minath Khalsi 195]

@@Alex Kennedy,

 

She smiled.

 

"I may not be able to take one down by myself, but if you help, I'm sure we could do it. But I'm not really sure what to do with these...." She said, and held out the rabbit carcasses to where she thought Raptor was. She may be a foot or two off, but she was close.

 

"And anyway, if I get close enough. I have poison. It won't kill it or make it unsafe to eat, but it will slow the deer's movements."

[Alex Kennedy 1,228]

@,

 

Raptor chuckled slightly. "I'll take care of those." He grabbed the corpses and tossed them in the sack over his shoulder. "Alright, I want you to try and take the deer on your own, but I'll be right there if you need my help, okay? Just say the word and I'll come rushing in."

[Minath Khalsi 195]

@@Alex Kennedy,

 

Syl smiled and took to the air. tracking the deer dropping to their source. She landed in a tree, so silent she almost couldn't hear her own wings. She heard the deer a little ways off, but still close enough that she could hear it's movements. After a moment she switched trees, landing on one closer to the deer. The deer raised it's head, as if sensing her presence. There's no way it could hear her, Syl was silent. When the deer lowered it's head back down, Syl switched trees once again. The deer raised it's head once again, and Syl could hear it's heart race quickening. She made her lead then, catching air to jump farther. She stung the deer with her tail but that didn't kill it. It gave chase, but it's movements lagged. Syl pursued it, but tripped on a root. She called out to Raptor to finish the deer off, it would be easy to catch now that's it's movements lagged.

 

 

((700 words about a deer. Awesome.))

[Alex Kennedy 1,228]

 

 

((700 words about a deer. Awesome.))

 

((Eh, I've written more, and about stranger things. And technically, some of it wasn't about the deer, but rather it's droppings. That's a much more legitimate topic.)) 

 

Raptor followed and watched Syl from a distance. Her ability to move silently was quite impressive, and her movements were smooth, quick, and graceful. He was really quite impressed, up until she tripped. Not that it was her fault, of course; she couldn't exactly see the root in front of her. He quickly dove in and slit the deer's throught with his talon. He turned to her, smiling.

 

"You did well, Syl. You're making me so proud of you."

[Minath Khalsi 195]

@@Alex Kennedy,

 

"Thanks." Syl grumbled unhappily, wiping the dirt and dead leaves off of herself.

 

"I just wish I could have handled that myself. I was doing great until, well," Sl said, then moved a paw over her unseeing eyes.

 

Until my blindness got in the way was what was indicated, but she didn't say it. She didn't like saying the word blind, it made her feel weak.

[Alex Kennedy 1,228]

@,

 

Raptor put a comforting claw on her shoulder. "Don't think about it like that. You did really well. Most can't take a deer on their own even with a lot more experience than what you have. I didn't expect you to be able to hit it at all, honestly. You may have gotten caught off guard at the end, but you still did great. I meant it when I said you were making me proud. So don't be too hard on yourself."

[Minath Khalsi 195]

@@Alex Kennedy,

 

Syl chuckled

 

"Thanks for the vote of confidence. I smell... is that a beaver?" Syl took another sniff of the air "I'll be damned, it's a beaver. Are they any good?" Syl asked Raptor, trying to forget her mishap with the root.

 

((It's up to you now to say "They're terrible", "let's go get it" or "we have enough meat."))

[Alex Kennedy 1,228]

 

 

((It's up to you now to say "They're terrible", "let's go get it" or "we have enough meat."))

 

((Curse you! Forcing me to make decisions that aren't very difficult and anyway are really pretty minor in the grand scheme of things. The nerve!))

 

Raptor shrugged. "As far as I'm concerned, meat is meat. Beaver is generally not considered to be very good, though. It's up to you, really. We don't really need any more for today, but it certainly wouldn't hurt to get some extra, and if you want more practice, beavers should be pretty easy prey for you to hone your skills on. But since this is your first day, I'm not sure we should stay out too long. To be honest, I'm surprised you aren't getting hungry by now."

[Minath Khalsi 195]

@@Alex Kennedy,

 

Syl smiled sheepishly as her stomach grumbled.

 

"Well... I never said I wasn't hungry. I just can control my stomach noises. And I think I'm good. I bagged two rabbit all alone, and did a deer assist." She said, and noticing how thirsty she was, she took a few large gulps from her water container. 

[Alex Kennedy 1,228]

@,

 

Raptor laughed. "Alright, let's head back and get something in that belly of yours then. We can come back out for some more hunting tomorrow, and maybe I'll even get in on the action some more. I know I've already said this several times, but I'm proud of you, Syl. I really am. You'll be a great hunter some day, even greater than me. Tell you what- we can have whatever you want for dinner. I'll even choke down some fruit with you if you want. You've earned it." 

[Minath Khalsi 195]

@@Alex Kennedy,

 

Syl laughed.

 

"You should have soooo not said that. I know a perfect recipe that you're going to have to cook!" Syl said, then laughed maniacally.

 

She lept into the air, doing a flip before spreading her wings and taking off. She realized her had no idea where the city was and waited for Raptor to go airborne so he could help.

[Alex Kennedy 1,228]

@,

 

Raptor groaned in mock anguish before taking off into the air after her, laughing. "I said whatever you want, and I meant it. But don't go getting used to it. After tonight you're back on a strict warrior's diet, and I don't want to hear a word of complaint." He flew ahead of her and led her back into town, touching down on the outskirts, not five minutes from their appartment building.

[Minath Khalsi 195]

@@Alex Kennedy,

 

Syl nodded.

 

"Got it. But I think that even you will like this. I was taught to cook it in Azeroth, but never actually cooked it myself." She said, and grabbed Raptor's talon once again so she wouldn't get lost. She assumed they were near the apartment, but without sight she was unsure.

[Alex Kennedy 1,228]

@,

 

Raptor smiled warmly when she grabbed his talon and he quickly led her back home. "Alright, so you're going to have to explain to me how to make this amazing recipe you've been talking about. Just talk me through it and I'll do my best. No promises that it'll be as good as it was back in Azeroth, though."

Edited August 29, 2013 by Alex Kennedy