{PRP} Big Bad Wolf.... Wolves?

[magnadearel]

((PRP for King Richard, Moon Whisper, and Darkhart))



King Richard had been traveling through this area for nearly a month now. When he had first entered the neighboring area, he'd heard vague rumors and whispers from those he'd talked to. The further into the territory he'd come the more substantial the stories had become. Eventually he'd pieced a story together. There was just something tickling the back of his brain that something wasn't right, but he couldn't place a hoof on it.

The creature upon his back shifted her weight before she spoke. "You might as well say something. It's clear something is bothering you. You're stiff as a board." You would never catch her walking in this terrain and getting her paws dirty. Roxie shifted her weight again against her companion's uncomfortable gait. Normally he was a smooth ride, except for when something was bothering him.

He snorted. "Aye. All the stories say there's a big bad wolf, dog, or canine of some kind in the area causing harm, but there's never been any concrete evidence of damage." Richard thought for a moment and then continued. "Like that one stallion who said a friend of a friend of a friend's cousin's teepee had been ransacked and ruined. They huffed and puffed and nearly blew the teepee away. But we could never find them. Things like that."

The stallion continued his slow cautious path through the dark night. That was one reason he was going slow. It was blasted hard to see. Add on top of that, he was looking for a dangerous beast. He was going to be cautious! Richard didn't know the area and that put him at a disadvantage. He wanted to help out, but he was having doubts that there was anything there for him to really help with.

WC: 295  

[magnadearel]

King Richard thought maybe he should have picked a spot to bed down for the night before the sun set, but one also normally had to go tramping through the dark forest to find a mysterious creature. He snorted. Whoever had decided that was full of horse s**t.


Roxie made a low rumble in her throat as she contemplated his words. "There is that. The evidence is scant I will admit. But there has to be something to it right? Otherwise it wouldn't keep circulating. It could be a mis-identification! And the animal isn't really dangerous at all." At least they could hope so.

Just then a tiny glimmer of light in the distance off to one side, flickering in and out as it passed behind vegetation caught her attention. Rapidly she jabbed her paw into Richard's shoulder. Roxie whispered, "Hey! Hey! There's a light over there. Who would be out of their mind to be walking around out here right now?"


The stallion rolled his eyes and didn't answer the feline's last question. Nevermind they were also out here walking around. But that aside, it was the first sign of life they'd seen out here. And since there was a lit lantern it also meant it wasn't just a wild animal. He turned his head until he saw the flickers of light and let out a neigh. It sounded ridiculously loud in the night.

"Hello out there! Hello the lantern bearer!" Richard started in the direction of the light. Perhaps someone who lived closer to here could give them a better idea of what they were looking for or at least the source of the rumors.


WC: 277

Abe no Mizuki

 

[magnadearel]

King Richard flicked his ears as he heard another voice calling from the direction of the light. He frowned slightly with a glance back towards Roxie. The voice had said 'us', which meant there was more than the one he had expected. He only hoped it wasn't trouble for them. "If things get sketchy, run and hide." He murmured to Roxie as he slowly started towards the light.

"Alright. We're coming."


Roxie fluffed her fur and laid her ears back. This was it. They might be facing the monster that haunted the area here. "Pppppft. as if. If anything comes up, I'll be far safer in the sky than on the ground." The stallion often forgot that she had wings and was perfectly capable of flying herself.


Richard proceeded forward until he was close enough to see who was holding the lantern. The wolf in the red hooded cloak was Not what he was expecting. "Have you been the source of the rumors?!" He neighed, half expecting her to attack him there. One part of him told him she was trouble. The other part told him she was scared and wouldn't hurt him. Richard hesitated. Then several things happened at once. He heard another voice from up above them, and he felt Roxie jump off his back. He assumed she was taking to the air for safety.


Roxie was indeed taking to the air, but not for the reason Richard had thought. She heard the familiar sounds of a bird cawing in the branches nearby. Which meant someone was spying on them. When the bird betrayed his location, she took off after him. There was something else out here and she wasn't going to let it sneak up on Richard. The bird blacker than night was hard to follow. She almost missed the night colored pony down on the ground. Roxie circled over him until she had the moonlight at the right angle that it cast its pale rays on his form.

"WOLF! Richard! Wolf!" Roxie yelled for all she was worth.

He heard Roxie caterwauling in the distance. Richard stared at the mare for a moment longer before he turned on his heels and charged for the voice of his familiar. There was something else prowling these woods, and he just didn't think the mare was the real threat.

WC: 390

Abe no Mizuki

 

[magnadearel]

The winged bobcat landed on a branch relatively high up to watch in safety. The first pony to show up, was not the one Roxie expected. She did a double take as the female wolf actually came charging up ahead of Richard.


King Richard was admittedly startled as the mare seemed to fly past him. What? As he finally got closer, he saw an even larger wolf. This must be the source of the rumors! Who knew how savage he was. He saw the mare doing some weird things and thought she was afraid of him. Richard let out challenging neigh as he did his best to move between the two. He rose up on his hind hooves and lashed his forelegs at the air in warning.

"I won't let you cause anymore trouble here!" He really hoped it wouldn't come down to a fight, but he was afraid it might.


WC: 151

Abe no Mizuki

 

[magnadearel]

King Richard watched a little dumbfounded and a little bemused. It seemed there wasn't a feral beast roaming these forests. He snorted at the challenge. "Then perhaps you'd better take your sister and leave this area and let the rumors rest."

That was all he said before he turned to leave. Richard paused just long enough to allow Roxie to land on his back once more. Either they would or they wouldn't heed his advice.


Roxie gave an amused twitch of her ear as she watched the scene unfold. She glided down to land on the waiting back. As he walked away she turned back to glance over her shoulder. "Well that was unexpected," and left it at that.


WC: 119
Total: 1,232

Abe no Mizuki