RP:The Hunt Begins

From HollowWiki

Synopsis: Lhyrin finds their way to Kelay again and crosses paths with Alvina, albeit not in her human form.

Town in the Trees

Shadows clung to Lhyrin, the elf having just passed through the portal from Vailkrin to the training facility, on their way to Kelay. They’d spent some time there, but ultimately for now, it felt like some sort of a dead end. What was Lhyrin even looking for? Did they even know? It didn’t seem so, for they stopped along the road, perching themself against a tree, their body leaned against it just so that they didn’t have to put quite so much effort into standing. Slender arms crossed over an equally slender chest, pallid lips twisted into a sour sort of like, as if the forsaken elf had just eaten a whole mess of lemons. Evening carefully shifted to night, allowing the elf to not have to adjust their sensitive eyes too much to the brighter atmosphere, as compared to the darkness of the city of the dead. Bow, quiver, and the same supple leathers that had adorned the elf before were still there, as if the equipment were very much a part of the elf. Stormy eyes watched those that passed by; couples and solo folk pocking the road here and there as they went about their business. Lhyrin, as they often did, only watched. It’s almost as if they never did anything else but that.


The sun’s dying light fills the Sage with harsher shadows and iridescent memories of the dawn that came before. To the North of Lhyrin’s resting place, under cover of brittle foliage and shy winter greenery, a white wolf lurked. It pads it’s way towards the open road cautiously, carefully, nearly silent. If it had been a true wolf, it might have been soundless in it’s investigative stalking. Passing couples on the road ahead are mirrored in it’s blue eyes but it makes no attempt to lunge in their direction. The travelers hold no interest, as they are not prey. Or so the human fused inside the animal reminds it repeatedly. Following the path carved out by shadows, the white wolf wanders near enough to Lhyrin to smell their leathers. A low growl of awareness is triggered; purely instinctual. A warning to whoever or whatever wore them to leave the wolf well enough alone. It's snout wrinkles sharp canines into view, it’s front legs bend as if preparing to attack if provoked further.


Lhyrin’s keen sense of hearing caught the sound of an approaching four-legged beast, the smell of wolf soon hitting the elf’s nostrils once the animal got close enough. “Do you smell your kind on me, somewhere amongst my own scent? I hope you do. You’re all quite a delicacy in Vhys. Of course, not everyone agrees with it. But how else does one better themselves as a hunter if they do not eat the flesh of all they hunt? Especially the other hunters. Tell me, little wolf, how should I eat *you*?” The elf finally turned their head to peer over their shoulder nonchalantly at the white wolf, the barest hint of a malice-filled smirk making itself known.


The wolf’s ears flick back in response to their remarks. Wolves? A delicacy? Little Miss certainly did NOT agree with eating wolf. She agreed less with their malicious, cocky smirk. The wolf snaps it’s jaws in Lhyrin’s direction defiantly, staying low to the ground while Alvina calls for their retreat. She isn’t sure that her hot headed wolf could tangle successfully with the elf. Much as she’d like to believe herself strong, Lhyrin's bragged about their skill in hunting. So much so that even other humanoids were branded ‘prey’. Little Miss wants to fight but she has an understanding with her other half and reluctantly agrees to pull back. The white wolf growls again at Lhyrin again, low in it’s throat before darting back into the underbrush from whence it came.


Something not quite humanoid flickered in Lhyrin’s eyes. It was something sinister, something deadly. Both sides of the wolf would agree on a retreat, but Lhyrin only saw a chase unfolding before their eyes. The smirk shifted into a full-on grin, the elf’s feet bringing them into the underbrush where the wolf hide. “What? You bare your teeth at me but you don’t want to play? How positively rude of you. You might win, you know. You might best me and you could be the one taking home the prize to the rest of your pack.” The yew bow wasn’t even bothered with; instead, a dagger was retrieved from within the leathers that adorned the elf. It wouldn’t take long for the white wolf to sense the silver, folded in with whatever other metals the weapon’s crafter deemed fitting for it. “You hunters here have no pride in yourselves. Why not fight? Why not prove yourselves worthy of the title? Come. Let me show you what years of practice has done for me.” The elf crept along the forest floor as quietly as possible, nimble feet taking care to where they connected with the ground.


The wolf had plenty of pride but Alvina’s decision held them both back. She -had- growled, startled and only meaning to warn whatever it was not to come close. There was no intent to fight or kill. Her human counterpart made sure of it. They’d attacked Meri, turned her, and Alvina couldn't stomach a repeat. What she hadn’t expected was for the elf to follow them. The threat sounded like just that and she didn’t know them well enough to make a judgement call. Mostly, she thought they were waiting for someone or something that close to the road. She’d judged poorly. The scent of silver pricks the wolf’s senses and it pauses, visibly torn between continuing it’s flight and trying it’s luck against the hunter chasing her. Not good. Not good at all. Without snow, hiding a white wolf in the Sage felt impossible. No shadow was dark enough to steal her from the fading light. Running was the only option. The wolf darts between thorny underbrush and pine needled forest floors, no longer caring about the sound it makes. She’ll be safe if she can cross the bridge into Cenril and navigate the back streets and crowds. Easier for an animal. In a flash, she’s off again heading east towards the sea side town.