Mangy Wolf Spotted in Woods

[marredwolf]

Anyone entering the Brambles might come into contact with a lone, sickly wolf. His fur is matted with dried mud and blood, he sports many old scars and walks with a gait of one still injured. He has a bony and starved look to him. On sight of most anyone he stands his ground at first, growling at any further approach, but then turns and runs if persisted. Druids of good natured deities will not draw any sign of aggression from him, but he will still refuse to be approached, running away as if scared, with his tail in between his legs. He approaches hunters after a kill of deer or boar, as if waiting for a chance to claim a portion, but will not accept any offerings of food from a person, and will wait for the hunter to leave, devouring quickly what he can before other scavengers come to chase him off.

To the observant woodsman:
It seems as tho this is an animal on the throes of death, perhaps looking for a place to die, and obviously in no condition to feed himself any longer. In this state, animals are known to attack weak and defenseless people in desperation. Tales from villagers in Greatgaunt shows this might be true, as he has stalked lone peasants who wander into the woods, and has at least once stalked a child and her mother as they gathered herbs not far from the town's gates. Tho a lone wolf, or even a pack of wolves, is not usual cause for alarm, this wolf, tho old and injured, is rather large, desperate and seems very cunning.

[Kelandros Armelis]

// pm sent

[marredwolf]

A warrior with a crossbow manages a few shots thru the thick brambles after spotting the wolf, a couple find its mark and the animal turns and runs at great speed and nimbleness thru the woods. Most would not be able to keep up with a fleeing wolf, and this one proves even harder to follow. He leaves no tracks save for blood drips, and this allows the warrior to follow its path for some time until coming upon a criss-crossing of rivers, where all traces of the wolf are lost.

[elvishnation]

A beautiful well built silvery white furred wolf wanders through the woods leaving no tracks behind her. She watches the other wolf but doesn't go near, every so often killing a boar or deer but eating little of it and padding quietly away to hide in some bushes or further away to watch and study the wolf as it eats. Her eyes are solemn as she watches showing sadness for the wolf.

[marredwolf]

He approaches the carcasses with care and a tired gait. He eats what he can and leaves before any other scavengers have a chance to catch him. After a couple of these instances he spots the other wolf in hiding and approaches as tho looking for a fight, with tail up and hairs bristling on his back. He bares his fangs and growls a few feet away from her, and just when it seems as though he would strike he sneezes violently and shakes his head and mane as if drying himself from a great storm. He then seems like a peaceful and weak wolf once again, merely staring with one white and one green eye and his tail down and looking slightly confused. This only lasts a moment, as he again shakes his head and turns aggressive, baring teeth and snapping at the air. This sudden change of behavior lasts only a few minutes, with one side showing a weak and tired demeanor, while the other displays a strong and violent disposition. This change seems to confuse himself as well as any observant, as he seems to be unable to focus on his surroundings and is no longer aware of the other wolf, merely snapping at the air at some unseen enemy. He attempts to walk away from that spot, in weak and faltering steps, before fainting on the ground. He lies there for a few hours. On the brush nearby a figure is seen, a man with the head of a stag. He takes unusually silent steps as he approaches, but upon spotting the other wolf he gives up and stands there watching. After this moment, as if tied to this event, the mangy wolf awakens, again looking tired and weak and showing no aggression. The man retreats to the woods. The mangy wolf whimpers to the other wolf and walks away. A feeling of peace and gratitude around him that only animals or trained people can sense.

[elvishnation]

*she (as a wolf) remains around to keep an eye on the wolf dragging freshly killed boar or deer to quiet corners for him, watching him carefully and worriedly giving him plenty of space always.*

[marredwolf]

After following the mangy wolf for a time it becomes evident the source of his weakness, he pukes up the food that he eats. In his steps he seems to turn violent suddenly, growling at nothing and snapping his maw at the wind, before once again turning quiet. He seems to muster an unusual strength in his periods of maddening anger, and in contrast he seems too weak to even be walking in his times of silent pacing. He finds pleasure in standing in the waters of a stream, drinking and staring at nothing in particular. Always there is a presence nearby, and sometimes a stag's head is spotted in the corner of an eye, before disappearing once again into the woods. At these times the mangy wolf becomes visible disturbed, a mix of fear and anger that only worsens his sudden changes. He seems now to not only accept but welcome the presence of the other wolf, at times turning to look behind him with his tail down in a gesture of subordination. After a day of this the wolf finally goes to sleep, and in the morning awakens as an elf. He turns to regard the other wolf:

"You friend, I know not if you are someone's pet or a spirit sent to watch over me, but i thank you nonetheless. Most would have sought my death, as an act of mercy or worse. But you...your kindness is most rare and welcomed. Had you not been here to spook that malarite he would have come to claim me. You have bought me enough time, and now I will be fine. Worry not now, go and return to your own things. Perhaps someday I can repay you."

[elvishnation]

She wags her tail a little and bows her head as if to say your welcome, she leaves behind some berries, playfully runs in a circle, before sitting down again and watching him curiously, still seeming to wish to follow him.

[marredwolf]

As he is watched by the silver wolf, the masked elf works on crushing the berries and nuts into two bowls, making a red and black paint. He works lines of each into his bare body, and even over his metal face mask, all the while chanting a poem in druidic in slow rhythmic tones. He paints his long black hair with streaks of red and paints of series of runes onto small stones that he places around him. He then draws a small dagger that shimmers with a white light, and covers it with a green pasty substance. He uses this to cut his skin on every limb and across his chest. He then produces a pipe and smokes a foul smelling plant, making long trails around him as he wafts its towards his body as tho trying to paint himself with the smoke. He sits in silence for awhile, his demeanor calm and collected, before standing up and looking up at the high sun and howling. He walks up to the silver wolf, with red and black paint on his hands, and pets it, making streaks of red and black along her snout and mane and chuckling at his work. He stays in this secluded spot for another day, chanting in low murmurs for nearly the entirety of the time. He talks to the wolf from time to time...

"I grow stronger, and the darkness weaker. Now I must heal the many wounds that remain unseen. If I am not allowed or able to do this, I shall surely die. But the impossible has already been done, and so my confidence abounds. This will, however, take some time. But for now, I need only enough to be able to stand and hunt again. Soon...soon...I am almost ready."

The next morning the elf straps on a set of armor and puts on the great weight of his many weapons.

"Now my friend...now we can hunt..."