The prickling of the fur on his pelt let Kadfael know it was time to wake. It meant the temperature had dropped rapidly with the setting of the sun and it was time for him to be on the move. He had spent a nice cozy winter in the solitary land that surrounded his den. No one around to disturb him. Only prey. Of course anything could become prey, really, if it had the poor luck to come across him. Speaking of . . . he was hungry. Time to find some food to fuel his journey.
Kad exited his den not even sparing a last glance at the hole in the ground that had served as his home for the last 6 months even though it was unlikely he would even see it again. It would most likely remain empty until some other critter came to claim it. It hadn't been empty when he had taken it. He smirked at the memory of how he had managed to get a feast and a home all in one night. Shaking out his coat he stretched, flexing his claws into the hard ground. Then perking his ears and putting his nose to the wind he set off to do his favorite activity. Hunt.
Once the business of a meal was taken care of it was time to set off. Reluctantly Kal turned away from what was left of the unfortunate animal that had served as his breakfast. Taking into account the amount of energy his normal form used to travel he made the decision to shift into his feral shape. He had a long way to go. This was a journey that he made twice a year, in the Fall to travel to his favored home and again in the Spring to move back south. His preference for darkness drove him out of his home during the summer months when the days were unbearably long. Though summer further south still had longer days and much warmer weather it was still preferable to what he would have to endure if he didn't travel.
During the long nights that he travelled Kadfael alternated between flying over rough terrain and covering the easier to traverse lands in his swift ground eating lope, only using his larger form when he needed to hunt or sleep. Shelter was always easy to find as he wasn't put off by finding ways to dispose of any likely places occupants. It wasn't long till he made it far enough south that the signs of Spring were taking over the land. That was how he found himself crouched in the shadow of a stand of trees watching a dark and brightly colored mare do what looked like seasonal preparations for a garden. He had stumbled across her shortly after his early evening meal before he had shifted to continue searching for a suitable place to settle.
Deca knew that she was out later than she should be. The sun was just shy of being completely below the horizon and it was actually a bit of a surprise that the stallion who lived with her hadn't come looking for her yet. Maybe because he had finally learned that that sort of behavior would earn him a swift n**. Still, she smiled fondly at the thought of him. Oh how her life had changed since he'd barged his way into it bringing with him all assortment of friends. As she mused over how much she'd grown over the years, tending her still dormant roses in preparation for when they would burst into bloom, she completely missed her watcher.
Getting bored with merely watching the mare Kad shifted his weight back onto his haunches and with a whisper of a sound launched himself at her his jaws wide, ready to snap shut on whatever they came into contact with.Deca wasn't sure what had alerted her to his impending attack but at the last moment she spun and let out a reflexive kick. Surprise and anger lending her strength. With a squeal she leaped into the air abandoning her task and tools and, feeling her wings take her weight, moved herself to a safe distance where she immediately began to express just how angry she was about being attacked in her garden sanctuary.
"HOW DARE YOU!" she trumpeted as she fumed.
The mare's kick landed square under Kad's jaw and had momentarily stunned him. Well that had been unexpected. He mused to himself as he waited for his wits to reorient themselves while she screamed and carried on a short distance away. Being taken off-guard by her reflexive defense had stoked his temper. Initially he had planned to just have a little fun roughing her up but now he was annoyed. His cold calculating gaze fixed on her as he strode forward, his paws crushing the tools she had left behind. Taking care not to move so as to give her warning he launched himself toward her again using his wings to help cover the distance. Deca once again sensed his intentions and took flight. With one last longing glance at her ruined gardening tools she flew off over the trees taking care to head in a direction that wouldn't lead him to her home should he try to follow her. She would have to warn the others that a walker was around.
When the mare took off into the air Kad started to pursue her. However it wasn't long before it became obvious that she was a stronger flier than he and he decided she wasn't worth the effort. With one last glance at her retreating figure he turned back to the dormant garden he had where he had first encountered her. A quick stroll around the area had him determining that once again it wasn't worth the effort to bother doing any damage to it before he left. Besides, he had never considered himself the petty sort. There wasn't enough satisfaction in it for him. With a growl he shifted feral and once again continued his journey.
After traveling for about another week Kal was finally satisfied with how far he had made it. He made quick work of finding a secluded area and making a home for himself. For the first time in some while he settled in with plans to take a long sleep. His body could use it. The journey had taken its toll. When he woke he would find food and then start exploring who else might be around the area he had decided to settle. But that was later. For now: sleep.
Reply
