The First 'Date'

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Featuring: Enif and Boona

Year-767, Autumn

Location: Glenmore, On the border with Blackwood

Enif:

Stones clattered down the rough mountainside and Enif watched them fall. Tall, muscled and dark as a winter night he watched over the foreign territory after the stones finally came to a halt. It was…green, even in the autumn he could see thick juicy sheets of grass and a multitude of colors coated the trees. It all made his mouth water.

He'd been traveling for days…maybe weeks. It all blurred together after the first couple of mornings. This was the longest he'd stayed away from the warmth of his herd, and he was lonely.

In this area there was, or used to be, a watchful mountain sentinel. A pale hero who guarded the pass between two worlds single handedly. But, as Enif knew it, even heroes must die. The sentinel’s brother journeyed to meet him, yet no pale stag had come to meet him. A short search later he found the pale body, near the border. Torn open at the neck it was thought to be some beast of the wood.  

A sad tale to hear. Sadder yet when Enif was told he would have guard the pass until a replacement could be found. Snorting Enif raised his head to the wind. It pushed past him, carrying his scent with it. And though he was tired and lonely only one concern unsettled him. What had killed the sentinel? Was it still lurking, waiting to tear out his threat next?

Boona

She loved it here, well sort of. She found that she adored the thick and lush vegetation that filled her belly and kept her nicely filled out. What she hated was the arrogant stags and does that so willing followed the stupid and idiotic codes of glenmore. If only the fat stags and the pathetic excuses for does would simple...disappear, then this place would have been haven. But no , they remained here and continued on with the stupid traditions. It almost made her glad that she had long ago renounced the glenmore blood within her and proclaimed herself the renegade.

Like many renegades Boona tended to stay close to the borders in case she had to disappear quick, that was the good thing about being close to Blackwood many of the herds refused to venture into the ‘cursed lands’. She found them interesting and wouldn’t have minded to gain access into their herd, learn their ways. But she was far from being ready to survive there, needing a bit more training first before she left.

She as trailed her familiar path along the rocky paths that separated Blackwood and Glenmore she caught a scent on the wind that was new to her. The old sential had once lived here until he...unexpectedly died.

A smile appeared. What a shame.

But no a new scent was upon the wind, one that made Boona grow restless with curiosity as she lifted her feathered legs to go and investigate.

Enif:

Halting his rocky patrol Enif lowered his head to nibble on a sparse patch of grass. As he chewed on the dry blades his chocolate eyes scanned the expanse of weathered stone that spread around him. A few steps to his side lay a steep drop to the earth, certain death if he was careless. To his other side the lie the rest of the mountain range where mountain cats and who knew what else were lurking. Even far from the black pines and sprawling shadows of his home danger seemed to lie in wait around every boulder, tree, and corner he crossed. Though, at least at home he had a comfortable den to retire to.

Enif felt worn out. As he should, a proper sleep had not been granted to him in days and it was catching up with him. And no sooner had the thought rest came to mind that his lids grew heavy. Bringing his tail around Enif popped his flank in a whip like motion emitting a loud thwack! His flank twitched agitatedly in response to the sting but his eyes remained dangerously close to shutting. This cloud of drowsiness was persistent. Well…it couldn't be helped.

Shifting from his spot his hooves fell heavily on the stone. Moving further from the edge, as sleeping near a cliff didn't sit well in his stomach Enif sided up to the rising mountain side. Leaning on the cool stone he let a low groan of happiness as his eyes finally closed. Sleep would finally be his. Keeping an ear swiveled his breaths became slow as sleep overtook him. His warrior’s demeanor slipped as a blank expression crossed his peaceful face.

Boona:

The source of the new scent was close, it was getting stronger the closer she drew to the cliff and it wasn’t long before she found the source. There laying down was a darkened stag with whom she had never seen before, a blackwood, not that him being a blackwood bothered it...it was just that he was a stag.

Stags were evil, all stags were. She had only met one that had been decent to her and then he had been taken from her by a stag. In turn she had learned to hate all stags which made killing them all the more easier for her.

Lowering her head down she stalked forward, brown eyes locked on the sleeping figure as her tail swished from side to side, the antler necklace she had wrapped around her neck dangled as she moved slowly. This stag was larger than her, most certainly more skilled, but since he was big that meant he couldn’t move as quickly as she could. She could do this.

Her tusk were her main weapons, she had seen how the mountain cats had taken down there kills with there teeth and that's how she did it as well. Her tusk she used for slicing the throat, a quick kill, but with this stag lying down she could have difficulty.

Enif:

A loud snort erupted from his peaceful nostrils. It bounced around his muzzle and exploded out jerking the large stag awake. His head snapped from the cold stone, his antler scraping across ground in the process.

“Wha…what happened?” He asked to no one. Had he slept long? It didn't feel like it. Blinking slowly he turned his head to scan the area.

Immediately his eyes fell on the doe who stood almost crouched. Her eyes locked onto his with a vicious shine. There was no mistaking that gleam in her eyes. He'd seen it many a time, featured in the eyes of ravenous wolves, rutting stags, and madmen. She wanted him dead.

Scrambling to his hooves Enif pointed his rack to the doe. Yet he did not charge, it was actually a defensive position. “M’am? Is something wrong?” It was a stupid question. He knew that much when the words left his mouth. It was obvious, he was the problem to this doe.

Boona

She hadn’t expected him to wake, it startled her actually as she flinched a moment, tail swishing side to side steadily. Her lean muscles bunched beneath her pelt as she suddenly sprung, reframing to answer the stag as she loped around his large frame. Minding his antlers she moved around to his lump and scraped her tusk across his hindquarters, more of a scrape than a slice. But she kicked at him with her hindquarters before galloping off, ascending the steady incline littered with rocks. Her delicate frame seemed to almost be dance across the rocks that slid beneath her hooves before she finally got up onto solid ground.

Shaking out her mane she cast her gaze back down to the stag as a low smile appeared. She could have fun with this one, perhaps he’s last longer than her other play things.

Enif:

An angry growl rumbled low and dangerously in the pit of his chest. That hurt. Through his thickening coat he could feel the torn skin, the blood oozing from the wound. Whether it was lack of rest, or the malice behind the act, Enif became mad. Enraged actually. His eyes followed the doe as she gracefully skirted up the mountain. Turning back to him the dark doe gave him a smug smile. Enif answered this veiled challenge with an angry chuff. His tail thrashed behind him, he so desperately wanted to charge up the slope and knock that smug smile from her lips. Yet…something felt wrong. No, that's what the doe wanted. She wanted Enif to blindly charge ahead, to act without thought. He wouldn't give her that satisfaction, his own petty anger wouldn't allow it.

Instead he followed her trail, picking his way carefully up. His large split hooves found it easy to propel him up the incline and within seconds he was level with the doe. “If you're looking for a fight you've found one. But don't be fooled, I won't go any easier on a doe. Not even a pampered Glenmore such as yourself.” His words were thick with anger and his eyes blazed. Another stag might try to woo this doe and veil it as trying to calm her spirit. But Enif was not a rut blinded fool. No, lowering his heavy rack Enif let out a bugle of challenge. This Glenmore would learn the weight of equality.

Digging his hooves into the rock he burst forth. Aiming straight for her chest Enif skirted at the last minute and arced his head. The feeling of antler meeting flesh greeted him. One his dropping tines caught the doe in the shoulder, behind it followed a crimson ribbon. Quickly backing away Enif kept his rack lowered. It was a light scrape compared to what he was capable of, a sort of payback for the wound she gave him below.

He'd have to avoid those tusks, they were irregularly sharp and lethal. Whoever this doe was, she used them for more than digging up roots.

Boona

She had tried to move before his twines could snag at her but it was too late, she felt the pain of the scrap, causing her to rear and kick out her back hooves in a sort of capriole. Moving away from the stag, a quick glance made her look down to see the gentle stream of blood flowing down her shoulder. A small laugh escaped her as she fought from the pain and rounded about the stag and shoved at him, snapping her tusk as his legs. Dancing away she couldn’t help the small giggle that rose from her as she trotted around the raging stag.

“Me? Pampered? Oh no dear stag, saying I was pampered is like saying you're evil...but I suppose all stags are evil so tough luck.” She said turning suddenly and biting at the stags neck, minding his antlers as she circled him again, watching his moves.

“You poor little thing, having to come up here all by your lonesome? You must really miss your mother? Judging by your skills you can’t by much older than a colt.” She teased tauntingly, bleating in surprise when he rammed her, causing a smile to appear as she took to her feet and tore around him, scraping his hindquarters again while minding his feet.

Enif:

Evil? He'd never been called evil. He'd grown up in Blackwood for Uir’s sake! He could practically scent evil on the wind. “Ha! I'm evil? Travel into the depths of Blackwood, there you'll find evil.” And what did this doe have against stags? Had those in Glenmore treated her so poorly that she'd developed these beliefs?

Wincing as she dealt yet another blow Enif bulged in anger. By the Uir she was fast! Hearing her hooves pounding behind him Enif threw  his hind hooves out. One the hard shelled toes struck flesh with a hearty thump. Wheeling around Enif charged the doe again yet she skirted out his way at the last second. Tossing his head Enif let a low growl slide from his lips. If only his magic was strong enough. Then he'd simply take over the doe and stop this madness.

But it wasn't and she was coming in for another strike. Taking some quick steps to the side he barely dodged the attack. The force of her movement brought a wind that filled his nostrils. She was no Glenmore doe. That much he could tell from her scent. So…a renegade?

Wheeling to face her his brow furrowed, “Let me guess, the pale guard that roamed these mountains, you met him didn't you?”

Boona

Boona giggled as she pranced out of the way of the stags strike, her hooves lifted in an elegant prance as she head her head high as she watched him. “The pale guard? Hm, I don’t recall.” She said before laughing again as she darted away , sliding back down the rocks to the original spot she had seen the stag, tail swishing in play. “Oh come on little stagling, can you not maneuver on the rocks like a big boy?” she taunted again.

Giving a scuff as hiked her tail as she trotted along the mountains path, having grown tired of the little game. Boona had grown hungry and with any luck she’d find a good meal in Glenmore and then go on with her game. Not to mention a good rest was in order before she took on the stag again, she could end it next time or allow him to live and keep on with this.

The game brought a grin to her face so it was very possible she’d keep up with this little event for a while.

Enif:

He stared down at the doe, his narrowed into hateful slits. She was toying  with him. That much he could tell by the smile on her lips and the gleam in her eye. But she would soon learn, he was a warrior not a plaything.

Leaping down the slope he careened towards the doe with a speed he'd yet to reveal to her. In mere seconds he was before her. In one fluid motion he dipped his head and shoved. As she fell Enif saw her eyes flash past his vision. She landed with thud and response a barking laugh erupted from his chest.

Quickly he moved forward and pressed his antlers down on the doe, pinning her to the ground. “You dare call me evil when you provoke violence yourself? You're no better than the stags you claim to hate.”  Pressing his antlers harder against her warm flesh Enif barely noticed the summoning bulge that sounded over the mountain side.

“I could kill you…but I won't. I'll show you this mercy, so that one day you may repay the favor to someone else.” Lifting his rack from his hold on the doe he took some hopping steps in case the doe tried to lash out.

“My name is Enif by the way. If ever you make it to Blackwood…perhaps we could meet on better terms?” His voice ended on a high note of hope. Another, more impatient bulge sounded. “I must go…I suggest you do too. The other warriors might not take an attack as kindly as I.” Turning on his hooves Enif bolted down the rocky trail. Whoever this new sentinel was, Uir give them strength.

Boona

She hadn’t expected the stag to knock her back with his antlers. Lifting herself off of the ground she glared in the direction of the stag before a low smile appeared, ears flattening. “I never claimed to be better, you silly overgrown colt, now did I? Yes stags have done me wrong and I detest them but i’ve also found that I have a love of killing as well. Gives me a sort of thrill.” She said turning from the stag and flicking her tail at him sassily.

“It would have been better if you killed me, for I wouldn’t have shown you the same mercy.” she called back as she turned as well, prancing back up the rocky tail in a sort of prance to head back into the glenmore territory. Hearing him say his name she thought a moment as her hoof stomped in thought.

“I’m called Boona, and if I make it to Blackwood you’ll be the person I find first.” She said grinning to turn about and head off her own way, needing a good rest and food in her belly from the efforts of today.

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Enif one in the fight against Boona