A Wolfquest Story - Lost River

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_Furia_
Newborn Wolf
Newborn Wolf
Posts: 8
Joined: Thu Sep 09, 2021 10:44 am

A Wolfquest Story - Lost River

Post by _Furia_ » Fri May 26, 2023 7:28 pm

I am in the middle of writing a semi-realistic story of my character’s playthrough. Let me know if you like it or (more importantly) where I may need to correct any errors. tia

—————-

As the sun rises over the remnants of an abandoned small town, Mal awakens from yet another peaceful slumber. She huffs, stands, then stretches her spine and legs - feeling out the tension in her muscles. The warm mustiness of her neglected home fills her senses as a grumble from her belly reminds her of her current predicament. The food in the house - both of the human and dog variety - has finally been depleted. She has known hunger for the past 3 days, and today is the day that she is going to change that.

Her body's desire for food carries her thoughts back to just a few months prior. Back to when people still occupied the now silent streets... back to when her human family still tended to her...

A longing for their companionship pangs in her chest. It has been many months since she's heard, seen or smelled any of them; and with the relentless hunger she now feels to drive that point home, she can accept once and for all that they are gone, and never going to come back.

She shakes off her thoughts and follows a worn out path to the outside. The steady tapping of her paws echo across the pavement as she enters the ghost town of Lost River. Even the few stray dogs that usually occupy these streets have finally vanished off into the wilderness. And now, out of options, she plans to do the same.

She stops at the edge of a parking lot to look into the tree line ahead. Unlike the town, the forest that surrounds it is teaming with life. Birds sing, insects buzz and off into the distance large beasts lament their frustrations. She has known only the predictable trivialities of domestic life her entire existence - from puppyhood to her current 17 months of age. In front of her now stands the unknown... and it beckons.

Her stomach rumbles again and she resumes her journey with renewed vigor. She sets her sights beyond the streets she's familiar with and towards the unexplored wilderness that holds the promise of change.

...

Not having any prior experience to guide her, Mal allows her instincts to direct her actions. With her nose, she finds a few white bones of little to no nutritional value. While in the midsts of chewing one of these she spots some movement out of the corner of her eye. She stops her breathing and perks up her ears, listening with intent.

A small, scrawny rabbit slyly enters her view. It doesn't bother to look around as it nibbles at the nearby grass - sifting through the blades to find those that are the most delectable. At the sight, Mal's entire body quivers.

The rabbit takes a hop closer and in the same instant, Mal bolts for it.

Quick on its feet, the rabbit effortlessly springs out of reach from the inexperienced wolf-dog. They run through a field and the rabbit tries to make a getaway in a nearby bush. Mal pursues, diving in head first. The branches poke and scrape the skin on her face, but she pays it no mind.

While she is wrestling with the vegetation, the rabbit makes a break for it and dashes out of the bush. Noticing this, Mal desperately tries to free herself as quickly as she is able; twisting and pushing her body until she is finally free. She hits the soil and breaks into a sprint in the direction she thinks it went. Trees whistle pass as she enters the neighboring woodlands.

Mal builds speed as she runs through mother nature's shrubbery. Her paws pounding against the dirt and leaves while she carves out a path. Her lunges heave as she forgets the hunt and embraces the momentum she's carrying - enjoying the full expression of the vitality in her slender legs and of the air licking the fur on her face. She had done little sprints to evade dogs in the streets before, but it was always cramped and winding. Here, the way ahead seems to have no end, and that thrills a part of herself she has yet to explore.

A strong odor suddenly fills her nose as her path is obstructed by a large, shadowy figure. Standing tall and proud in the midst of the wilderness before her, is a mature elk cow.

She comes to a grinding halt then stands still. Mal has seen elk before, but never up close like this. She stares, dumbstruck, as she takes in the size of the beast before her.

The elk, for its part, snorts and takes a step back. Its eyes wide with fear and uncertainty at her sudden appearance.

Mal flicks an ear but she doesn't otherwise move. She's not used to encounters like this and isn't sure if she should stand her ground or flee. Her heart pumps heavily in her chest as she waits for the elk to make some kind of move.

The elk sizes her up much the same, and after a brief moments hesitation turns its eyes and decides to bound away.

Mal's blue eyes follow the retreating figure. The sight of it stirs something in her and without consciously making the choice, Mal finds herself running once again.

The wilderness is a blur as they race through the underbrush. The elk passes through a small stream; its hooves striking against the rocky creek bed, sending pebbles skyward in its wake. Mal follows suit and shoves herself chest first through the stream, the icey water saturating her coat.

The chase takes them to a parking lot full of abandoned cars, rusted and forgotten. The elk is quick, dodging and swerving around the obstacles in its path as it tries to shake off its pursuer. Mal struggles to keep up as exhaustion slowly builds in her limbs.

They burst back into the forest. The elk continues its breakneck pace but Mal begins to lag behind. Her breath coming in ragged gasps.

Suddenly, the ground gives way beneath one of Mal's paws and she tumbles over the ground. Rocks and twigs lavish her fur as kinetic energy spins her over and over until she finally comes to a stop.

The fall stuns her for but a second and she immediately jolts upright. Her eyes scan the trees for any trace of the elk. She sees nothing, but hears its hooves beating away in the distance.

She lets out a growl in frustration. There is no way she can possibly catch it now.

As her blood begins to cool she starts to feel the chill of wet fur and the fatigue of expended muscles. This isn't so bad in and of itself, but accompanied with the hollowness in her belly Mal can't help herself but to let out a string of small whimpers.

She is starving, cold and wore out. And she doesn't know what to do.

Mal pulls her head up and notices for the first time that her surroundings are dark and unfamiliar. She sniffs the air, and it greets her with strange new scents - though one thing in particular immediately grabs her attention. She smells meat.

Her mouth salivates uncontrollably and she jumps up to track down the source. Twilight starts to take hold of the landscape as an hour of fruitless searching passes, but finally, she stumbles upon the source: a stale deer carcass.

Mal doesn't hesitate - blind by hunger, she sees only the food and begins tearing at it ferociously.

Unbeknownst to her however, there are two pairs of eyes watching her every movement.

Mal doesn't experience taste as she tears, pulls and swallows anything soft enough for her teeth to rend. There are no thoughts or worries on her mind: only the carnal need to sate her hunger.

It is this state that she doesn't observe the figures that are inching ever closer to her. She continues to feast in this manner until a flicker of movement catches her attention. She looks up, and freezes.

In the shadows there are two wolves peering down at her. Mal's ears collapse at the sight and her tail retreats between her legs. A stab of fear pins her in place.

The wolves halt their advance and exchange a glance with one another. A thought broaches Mal's mind and before they have time to act, she makes for one more run.

Heart spiking with adrenaline, she leaps away into the forest. She hears the sound of their footfalls behind her and starts to sprint even faster.

She has never encountered wolves before and to her, they simply appear as strange looking dogs. And dogs have never been nice to her.

As she runs, a familiar scent curls in her nose and fills her body with warmth. She feels a sudden burst of energy and starts trailing it. Home isn't too far away.

The sounds of the wolves behind her begin to fade into the background as the forest opens up to the visage of broken down buildings. She doesn't miss a step as she beelines straight towards her house, running up the path she blissfully walked down this morning.

She makes it inside and immediately turns towards the door. This is where she will make her stand if she has to. She has nowhere else to run, and nowhere else to hide.

She pants as she waits. Seconds pass. Then minutes. After about fifteen her breath returns to normal. There is no sign of the wolves.

As she continues her vigil her eyelids start to become heavy. She resists at first, shaking her head in an effort to keep herself more alert. The longer she waits however, the harder this is for her to do.

Eventually, the beckoning of a warm, soft bed is too much to handle and she withdraws to the bedroom. She is a bit unsteady on her legs as she slowly makes it bedside. Tenderly, she hops onto the mattress and curls into its soft blankets.

While she stares at the door in a vain effort to keep watch, her vision darkens as she falls into natures nocturnal embrace.

—————

You can read the updates to it here if interested. tia

https://www.wattpad.com/1346520659?utm_ ... p%2B4xxfaR

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