[PRP] Desert Runaway (Night Fell x Red Riding Hood)

[Kyrieko]

The day had been an especially hot one, forcing those that were brave enough to call the desert lands home into the shadows and cooler places. But as the sun began to set and the shadows themselves lengthened along the dunes and created strange shapes in the ever shifting sands, the desert dwellers began to wake and romp around. Quite literally, in the case of one wolf, one raccoon, and one crow.

Night Fell raced around in the sand, one leg held up as he moved. A rock zoomed past his head, causing him to laugh and snap his teeth, almost catching a second. From the sky, a dark shadow dove, talons extended. But the black and white marbled wolf was ready for it, digging his paws into the sand and putting on the brakes, switching directions in the beat of a heart.

"That the best you two hair-brained critters, got?!" The wolf laughed.

An indignant caw came from the sky, followed by another aerial attack. He'd been listing for it, the sound of wind whispering through feathers. But the crow came from his blind side and almost succeeded in snatching the scarf around his neck.

Night Fell flattened himself to the sand and felt the wingtips beat against his head as Jackal pulled up out of his dive. What a dirty move, using his blinded eye as a leg up. The alpha approved completely. They were raiders, after all, and anything was considered fair game in their books!

"You are lettin' the sun scramble what little brain y'have!" A voice snickered right beside his ear. Little fingered paws gripped his fur tightly as Night Fell jumped to his feet.

"You still gotta remove the item!" Night Fell laughed, racing along the sands again with his raccoon brother on his back.

And so, their raiding game continued.

Quote:

Hide is probably following Red, with or without her knowing xD;

 

[NymiiNym]

Red Riding Hood had, again, left home. She was bigger now so it shouldn't be a problem -- right? Disregard the fact she should have told her Alpha where she was heading; it was overridden by the other fact that said Alpha was also her father and had pushed her last nerve.

It was no secret that she rejected her abilities and actively tried to subdue them. Big Bad had pleaded and begged her to reconsider before switching to demands. She'd be safer if she knew how to use her powers, he claimed. She doubted that. He just wanted to know what she saw for himself. For the pack. It didn't matter how she felt, and she knew this deep down despite his protests. It fell on deaf ears, and Red was done with it. She wasn't going to become the Seer he wanted, and the last straw fell when he announced her ascension into the Seer role. She had wanted to be a Scout, but of course her eyes overruled that.

Of course she had no choice.

So she fled to one of her second homes; the Raiders. It was a long distance and that was desirable. Big Bad could go to the Iron Hides and snatch her back, but Night Fell was so far he wouldn't leave his pack unguarded. Not right now at least, when they only had one Hunter and one Guard. He was stuck, and all he could do about it was wait for her return; if she came back.

Sand seeped through her toes as she grumbled irritably. She never got used to walking in the sand -- wasn't there some trick to it? Her tail flicked sand off helplessly, spine twitching at the feeling. She couldn't complain; she came here on her own volition. Hadn't her father wanted to send her here as a pup to train under a Seer in the desert? Something like that, anyway.

For a moment she considered turning around, but it had been quite some time since she saw Uncle Fell. That, and she wasn't wasting the effort she already put in. She was going to see her uncle, even if it caused her fur to be coated in sand. Gross.


Kyrieko

 

[Kyrieko]

Sound could travel deceivingly in the desert lands. The raucous laughter of wolf and crow rolled along the dunes, sometimes sounding close, other times as if in the distance. One raccoon was not laughing so much. He clung on tightly, determined to win this damned game! He had to. It was definitely his turn to best his brother. Fingers worked to unwind the scarf while he sat astride the alpha wolf. Night Fell certainly wasn't making it easy! He zipped around, twisting and turning at sharp angles, bucking and jumping. But Soul Thief clung.

At least until Fell decided to jump once more, twist, and go for a body slam against the sand.

There was a curse. An undignified squawk as a tail smacked Jackal. A 'thump'. And then a yip as Thief bit Fell so he wasn't so squished anymore.

"Brown-bellied snake!" Fell chortled.

"Stupid raccoon-dog!" Thief fired back, flopping on the sand and snorting at his wolf brother.

The game was over. The two familiars had not been able to retrieve the scarf. But it hung loosely, dragging against the sand. It had been very close. He needed to practice more. Maybe these sort of games would be good exercise for his growing gang, affectionately referred to as the "Raider's".

A pale crow flew silently, having made sure the princess of the Crows had made it far enough to travel alone. Once sure she was heading the right direction, Hide flew ahead. He spotted his alpha and his twin, rolling his eyes at the sight. They looked like a hot mess. A bunch of nestlings never taking anything seriously. But Hide knew better. His alpha was a force to be reckoned with. Even if was a silly ditz other times.

"My alpha. The princess of the Crows approaches." He called out, making a slow circle around the three. Jackal took to the skies with him. "She comes from the north-west."

Instantly, Night Fell was on his feet, shaking out the sand from his fur (or as much of it as possible), blue eye looking to the north-west. The princess of the Crows? Oh snakebite.... was this a planned visit? Something told him, it was not.

"Hide. Fly back to the gang, let them know we will have another joining us this evening. Rest your wings. Jackal, go and lead her in." Desert sun destroy him. He'd be lucky if a certain alpha didn't have his furry behind.

Soul Thief rolled to his feet and sat on his hind legs, giving Fell a sympathetic pat. "Should I make arrangements?" He asked solemnly.

Fell shot him a look. "Fer what?"

"Your glorious death!" The raccoon cackled as a paw sent him face first into the sand.

The crow twins were in action the second orders were given. Jackal, his sleek black body flying low to the sand, much more visible then in the sky, spotted the she-wolf in question. He let out a cackle at the sight of her, swooping in to circle the young wolf. "Lady Red! What an unexpected delight!" Oh he hoped he got to witness first hand what happened when her father found out she was with the Raiders.

Nymphiea

 

[NymiiNym]

When she spotted Jackal she flipped her tail in response, pausing her travel in the blasted sand. She expected one of the birds to find her, and perhaps she was banking on that. She never knew where the Sand Raiders were stationed, as it kept changing. That, and the desert wasn't easy for her to understand. It was all just... sand. Nonstop sand. She never knew why her uncle seemed to love the place so much.

"Jackal," she greeted, nodding towards him. "I'm close then, right? How are you? How's Hide?" She knew her manners, of course, and she was genuinely curious how the birds were. She saw them plenty visiting the pack, although she didn't often have chance to chatter with them.

"I don't suppose you could lead me to my uncle, could you?" She knew the answer, but again, manners. Relief washed over her; she'd be able to rest with her second favorite wolves soon.


Kyrieko

 

[Kyrieko]

Night Fell watched the sleek black crow take off to the north-west, and the pale counterpart heading to the east, before heaving a sigh as he glanced down at the sputtering raccoon. He always loved when his niece and nephew came to visit! But their father was a different beast to be reckoned with. Still, it would be nice to see how she'd grown. He received frequent updates about the Crows, most of which was Big Bad babbling about how beautiful his seer daughter was becoming.

Huh. Maybe that was why she was out here? While they weren't a pack quite like the Crows, their little gang of misfits had a seer among them. Dawnfire had always been more than willing to meet and work with Red.

"Wonder what brought her ta the desert this time?" The alpha mused, stretching his muscles out a little. Their practice had been a good one this twilight.

Brushing his face off, Soul Thief followed his gaze and shrugged. "Bet you a mouse that her father has no idea about this visit."


Jackal snickered and flew a slow, lazy circle around the shewolf, to make conversation a bit easier. "My lady, you have good instincts!" He nodded his head in approval, though he was pretty sure that Hide had more to do with it in his subtle ways. "Me? I am as miserable as ever, becoming a cooked chicken out in this heat. Hide has been with the Crows." He clicked his beak as if he was jealous.

"And how are you, Lady Red? We are so excited for you to visit us!" He asked before laughing. "Of course I can! You're uncle is awaiting your arrival. Come with me!" With that, Jackal began an easy to follow pace back towards his alpha.

Nymphiea

 

[NymiiNym]

Red laughed softly, tail flicking idly behind her as she trotted to keep up with her bird friend. She hadn't seen Hide on her trip away from the pack and a part of her wondered if they had spotted her and relayed the information to Bad when they got there. Her spine tingled, but the familiar irritation washed away her concerns. Good -- he should know where she was. Somewhere he couldn't insert his paw into things.

"We?" she echoed. That meant her uncle already knew she was approaching. The sand slipped between her paws with ease, although she resisted the urge to shake her paws every other step. How did the Sandraiders do it? Didn't the sand irritate their paws as it did her?

When they reached her uncle she broke into a sprint, no longer needing the helpful guidance of a friendly bird. Her face broke into a grin as she skidded to a stop near both Night Fell and the clever Soul Thief, tail wagging a mile a minute.

"It's been some time," she barked, standing taller than he had last seen her, although not by much. She had always been small for a Dire. "How come I have to be the one who visits?" Red teased, shaking sand from her fur.


Kyrieko