Okibi read over her mission briefing once more as the great lift slowly hoisted her to the top of the enormous cavern that housed her village. No matter how many times she read it, it couldnt quite sink in. She was supposed to assist wolves, actual wolves, in a hunt because their pack leader was away . . . negotiating. Of course, it wasnt the concept of interacting with wild animals that threw her for a loop; it was the fact that the wild animals were the ones who initiated the interacting. She'd grown up in the wild, and over those fourteen years spent traversing Wind Country's vast terrains she'd met many a wild creature. Wolves were well known for being reclusive, keeping to themselves and to their packs. That this specific pack was seeking out the aid of humans was nothing if not astonishing.
The metal plate under her feet came to a grinding halt at the top of the lift and Okibi stepped off the platform. She adjusted the layers of protective cloaks she wore to protect her from the diamond sand storm and shifted the reinforced cowl and goggles perched on her head. She could have used one of Sousuke's suits of course, but unfortunately there wasnt one in her size available at the moment. The last one had been . . . well, lost when it was being tested. Cloaks and cowls would have to do for now.
Okibi signaled a guard to open the gates and the loud scraping and grinding of the huge wrought iron gates against the sand dusted ground scraped against the inside of her head. She lowered the goggles over her eyes and ducked out of the gates as soon as they were wide enough. The large metal doors slammed shut behind her and Okibi scanned the area around the gates; the storm was in full swing and visibility was low.
The briefing said the pack would be waiting for her outside the gates, but she didnt see any signs of . . . Suddenly, Okibi was surrounded by shuffling shadows, but she felt no animosity or antagonism from them. The pack had found her. She surveyed them as they closed in close around her; it seemed that their thick fur coats protected them from the harsh sands of the storm. A natural adaptation their species developed over the many years that the Maelstrom had been terrorizing Wind Country's surface.
She spoke to the group in growls, sounding muffled by her cowl. "Do you speak human tongue?" She asked, scanning the group of seven or eight canines. One of the larger wolves stepped forward, and instantly she could tell that he was one of the more seasoned members of the pack just by the way he held himself.
"The older ones among us speak the language of man, human, but the pups are not yet learned in it." He said, speaking in a very confident, human sounding baritone. If Okibi had to guess, she would say that he was the packs Beta, the second in command.
Okibi nodded and wrapped her cloaks more securely around her. "We will keep things simple for communication purposes then. Let's get things started shall we?"
---- An Hour of Hunting Later ----
Okibi breathed silently as she pulled down the edge of her cowl away from her mouth, crouching low behind some rocks and peering over with just her eyes. They'd tracked a herd of Spiralopes out of the storm and into a small gorge a few miles west of Sunagakure. The red furred animals had stopped in the gorge to drink at the small creek that ran through it, and Okibi thanked the spirits of the desert for her good fortune.
"This is perfect." She whispered at Beta, who was crouching beside her. "There are only two ways in and out of this gorge. The cliffs are too steep for them to climb." She turned to the large male wolf, grinning slightly. "You and your pack wait here. I'll sneak around to the other side of the gorge and scare them in your direction. Sound good?"
The canine nodded his big head, looking at her appreciatively. "It is a sound plan. We will wait here to ambush. You are smart for a human young one."
Okibi just snorted at the wolf's sort-of compliment and silently snuck herself away from the pack and up the right side of the gorge. She zipped along the edge, keeping the herd of antelopes in sight while keeping her presence diminished and unnoticeable. When she reached the other end of the earthen crevice, Okibi crouched low on a jutting ledge, peeking over. She barely saw the pack at opposite end, watching her. She waved her arm over her head, telling them to get ready. Okibi then picked herself up and flew through some hand seal before tossing herself from the cliffs edge.
Gravity intensified around her, pulling rocks free from the cliff faces on either side of her. Small boulders came tumbling down around her, cutting off any escape the prey might have thought to make by getting past her. She landed with an enormous splash and earth shaking BOOM in the middle of the creek, sending water everywhere. The sound alone was enough to send the herd of red antelopes fleeing away from her, just a she planned. Now feeling good about herself and her plan, Okibi stood up and sat back on one of the fallen boulders to watch the carnage unfold.
In the end, the pack had managed to down two large bucks; more than enough for their eight or so members. Their pack leader would be pleased. Okibi blinked owlishly from her perch on her boulder when Beta approached her, carrying something bloody in his jaws gingerly. He lifted his head to her, offering her the morsel, and Okibi slowly extended her flesh hand to accept it. A large, warm heart dropped into her palm with a wet plop, and Okibi tried not to make a face. Even when she'd still had a taste for bloody meat, she'd never enjoyed eating such organs like the heart as Seven had. Canines could be so weird sometimes.
"As thanks for your assistance, young human." Beta said, nodding gratfully. Okibi nodded back, trying to look pleased so she didnt offend him.
"Any time."
Word Count: 1061
The metal plate under her feet came to a grinding halt at the top of the lift and Okibi stepped off the platform. She adjusted the layers of protective cloaks she wore to protect her from the diamond sand storm and shifted the reinforced cowl and goggles perched on her head. She could have used one of Sousuke's suits of course, but unfortunately there wasnt one in her size available at the moment. The last one had been . . . well, lost when it was being tested. Cloaks and cowls would have to do for now.
Okibi signaled a guard to open the gates and the loud scraping and grinding of the huge wrought iron gates against the sand dusted ground scraped against the inside of her head. She lowered the goggles over her eyes and ducked out of the gates as soon as they were wide enough. The large metal doors slammed shut behind her and Okibi scanned the area around the gates; the storm was in full swing and visibility was low.
The briefing said the pack would be waiting for her outside the gates, but she didnt see any signs of . . . Suddenly, Okibi was surrounded by shuffling shadows, but she felt no animosity or antagonism from them. The pack had found her. She surveyed them as they closed in close around her; it seemed that their thick fur coats protected them from the harsh sands of the storm. A natural adaptation their species developed over the many years that the Maelstrom had been terrorizing Wind Country's surface.
She spoke to the group in growls, sounding muffled by her cowl. "Do you speak human tongue?" She asked, scanning the group of seven or eight canines. One of the larger wolves stepped forward, and instantly she could tell that he was one of the more seasoned members of the pack just by the way he held himself.
"The older ones among us speak the language of man, human, but the pups are not yet learned in it." He said, speaking in a very confident, human sounding baritone. If Okibi had to guess, she would say that he was the packs Beta, the second in command.
Okibi nodded and wrapped her cloaks more securely around her. "We will keep things simple for communication purposes then. Let's get things started shall we?"
---- An Hour of Hunting Later ----
Okibi breathed silently as she pulled down the edge of her cowl away from her mouth, crouching low behind some rocks and peering over with just her eyes. They'd tracked a herd of Spiralopes out of the storm and into a small gorge a few miles west of Sunagakure. The red furred animals had stopped in the gorge to drink at the small creek that ran through it, and Okibi thanked the spirits of the desert for her good fortune.
"This is perfect." She whispered at Beta, who was crouching beside her. "There are only two ways in and out of this gorge. The cliffs are too steep for them to climb." She turned to the large male wolf, grinning slightly. "You and your pack wait here. I'll sneak around to the other side of the gorge and scare them in your direction. Sound good?"
The canine nodded his big head, looking at her appreciatively. "It is a sound plan. We will wait here to ambush. You are smart for a human young one."
Okibi just snorted at the wolf's sort-of compliment and silently snuck herself away from the pack and up the right side of the gorge. She zipped along the edge, keeping the herd of antelopes in sight while keeping her presence diminished and unnoticeable. When she reached the other end of the earthen crevice, Okibi crouched low on a jutting ledge, peeking over. She barely saw the pack at opposite end, watching her. She waved her arm over her head, telling them to get ready. Okibi then picked herself up and flew through some hand seal before tossing herself from the cliffs edge.
Gravity intensified around her, pulling rocks free from the cliff faces on either side of her. Small boulders came tumbling down around her, cutting off any escape the prey might have thought to make by getting past her. She landed with an enormous splash and earth shaking BOOM in the middle of the creek, sending water everywhere. The sound alone was enough to send the herd of red antelopes fleeing away from her, just a she planned. Now feeling good about herself and her plan, Okibi stood up and sat back on one of the fallen boulders to watch the carnage unfold.
In the end, the pack had managed to down two large bucks; more than enough for their eight or so members. Their pack leader would be pleased. Okibi blinked owlishly from her perch on her boulder when Beta approached her, carrying something bloody in his jaws gingerly. He lifted his head to her, offering her the morsel, and Okibi slowly extended her flesh hand to accept it. A large, warm heart dropped into her palm with a wet plop, and Okibi tried not to make a face. Even when she'd still had a taste for bloody meat, she'd never enjoyed eating such organs like the heart as Seven had. Canines could be so weird sometimes.
"As thanks for your assistance, young human." Beta said, nodding gratfully. Okibi nodded back, trying to look pleased so she didnt offend him.
"Any time."
Word Count: 1061