Betas and Bears [past thread]

[Aspen Wynfrid]

For days now, things around the clan had seemed particularly tense. The father of the Beta wolves seemed to be on a particular war path with his children, belittling them more than usual. While Aspen had proved capable of rolling with the punches, Lycus had always seemed to take their father's berating a little harder. Of course he would. He was to be the next Alpha once their father was too old and weak to manage the title himself. Even still, Aspen always found herself keeping her brother together. She had faith, though; faith that her brother wouldn't do anything too stupid.

As she made her way down the street towards her brother's abode, a smile tugged at her lips at the joyous aura that lingered within their clan. Truly, they were in a great place in life. The winter so far had not been unkind and she found her heart warmed by the beauty of their livelihood. Such a close people the Wynfrids were, which was much more than could be said for many of the other clans. Aspen couldn't help but feel the overwhelming love for her home and her people. She considered herself one lucky wolf. To be so adored by the clan folk was a mighty achievement to the Beta. She felt so at peace among them. More than anywhere else in the world, this was where she belonged. Even the trees that she loved to explore so often did not bring her the same feeling of wholeness as her clan.

Khan bounded up to her, pulling her from her internal thoughts as he tucked his head beneath her hand, pressing himself against her as they walked. She smiled down at him, scratching behind his ears as he panted, tongue hanging out the side like a puppy. He was still very much a young wolf, so full of life. "Good morning, you. Have you been keeping out of trouble?" He whined softly at her before spotting children playing a game of chase, unable to resist the urge to join in. If nothing, the canine certainly loved the children and a good game of chase. They squealed with delight as he approached, nipping at them softly. Shaking her head, Aspen ducked off the main road, making her way to her brother's front door.

She let herself in, as she so often did. The two of them seemed to have no concept of personal space. Well, perhaps it wasn't that they had no concept of personal space more than it was simply they did not see a need to uphold to formalities such as knocking and waiting to be let in. They were siblings, after all, and had a bond closer than most could imagine. It was uncanny how in-tune with one another they were, almost as if they were the same entity separated into two bodies. "Brother?" She called out, setting her bow and quiver on the kitchen table. Making her way to his kettle, she began to brew tea for the both of them while she waited for him. It was one thing to walk right into his home. It was another thing entirely to intrude upon his bed chamber.

tagged: Lycus Wynfrid

[Lycus Wynfrid]

Tense was putting it lightly. It was excessive, intense, and to the point where it was becoming mentally violent for him. It wasn't like Lycus to keep anything from Aspen, but these dark thoughts that had been filtering in and out of his mind were things he was too afraid to share. It was dangerous, it would be a risk, and the last thing he wanted to do was put her in any danger because of whatever foolish ideas he might be toying with.

And he was toying with a lot.

Yet, something had to be done. To preserve the peace and closeness of this clan, to keep what they had fought so hard to maintain, something had to be done. And he didn't mean just inside the wolf pack, but outside of it. The wheels in his head were turning, and Lycus just had to maintain the momentum and not spiral out of control. Yet the question remained- could he do it? Could he take that next step?

He had only risen from his bed less than a half hour ago; dressing and splashing cold water against his face. From the moment he woke up, he was thinking about this, calculating every move, trying to think of the repercussions and how to bypass them. It was never-ending. Fingertips tapped against his forehead in idle thought before the sound of Aspen's voice echoed from the main room and broke him from his silent reverie. Blinking those bright eyes, he stepped out to see her there and he offered his usual smile. "Sister," he said in way of greeting. His boots were near the door, and he moved to slip them on. "Are we hunting today?" Having been so wrapped up in everything else, he wasn't sure what day it was or if he had even promised to go with her.

He had to find himself again before she knew something was wrong. And she always knew when something was wrong.

[Aspen Wynfrid]

When Lycus entered the space as she poured up the tea, she nodded to him, giving him a bright smile. "Well, it is our hunting day." She replied with a hint of teasing in her tone, a chuckle building in her throat. He had a lot of his plate, so she understood when he didn't remember all of his commitments. Though, she'd be lying if she said she didn't feel just a little offended when he forgot his plans with her. Still, she tried to put it out of her mind, give him the benefit of a doubt.

When he'd slipped on his other boot, she walked over to him, her own boots tapping quietly against the floor. Holding out a cup of steaming tea to him, she took a sip from her own cup. "I hear there's a bear that's been wandering a bit close to our homestead. Could be a good lead to follow." She said. Then, between sips, "Besides, we could really use the hide and meat. We're not particularly low as of yet, but who knows when we'll get the chance for such a massive kill again." She blew over the cup to cool her drink. It was true, though. Most bears were hibernating now, but this one in particular seemed to have a plan of its own. Many of the deer they'd normally hunt had been frightened away by the beast. With him wandering even closer to the Wynfrids main residences, he was becoming even more of a threat.

As she finished her tea, moving to rinse her cup before gathering up her bow and arrows, making sure that her dual swords were also at her hip, she looked Lycus over, pursing his lips. "Are you letting father get to you again?" She asked him, placing her free hand at her hip as she studied her brother with pale blues.

[Lycus Wynfrid]

"Yes, right," he murmured with a nod of his head. For a moment, he hadn't even known what day it was, let alone what he'd be setting off to do. Lycus was usually on autopilot when it came to things around the village, and it was mostly avoiding their father any chance he got. Naturally, Ookami found that bothersome, considering he couldn't keep tabs on his son to assure that he was doing everything properly as he should. So, these hunts with Aspen were the perfect way to avoid him, get away, and do something he actually enjoyed. And her company was always pleasant and welcoming. "I just...slept in late today. My mind's all-" He gestured with waggling fingers at his head. "Jumbled."

He'd offer a gentle thanks as the cup was handed to him, and those bright eyes dropped down to watch as the steam rose up into the air, shifting into beautifully strange patterns. "A bear, hmm?" That made him snap out of his thoughts a little, a grin curling his lips. Lycus always did like a good hunt, and a bear was certainly a challenge. Nothing the two wolves couldn't handle on their own, however. "We'll need the meat," he said, almost as if he had heard her own thoughts. "The deer have been fairly scarce and we've a few more weeks of winter." Or, it would be another long season if they were unfortunate. He often liked the colder months, but after too long, the frigid air got to him and made him irritable.

Barely having touched his tea, only sipping at it idly, he finally settled his gaze upon his sister for more than a few seconds. Aspen was questioning him, knowing exactly what was wrong...but she didn't know everything. And because he couldn't be sure if he was going to be dumb enough to go through with the crazed ideas in his head, he couldn't find the voice to tell her.

Lycus drew in a deep and slow breath, rising up from his seat to retrieve his own weapons. He belted the sword and axe at his sides and slung the quiver across his back. When his hand gripped onto his bow, he regarded her again. "Always," he told her, forcing a somewhat amused smirk onto his face. "But...all will be well in due time." When he was dead. By whatever means necessary. "Now, let us find this bear so I may vent my frustrations, yeah?" Despite his words, the Wynfrids respected all wildlife...even if this particular bear was pushing the limits and getting too close to their personal territory. It had to be dealt with.

A soft jab at her shoulder, he slipped out the exit with a bit more bounce in his step.

[Aspen Wynfrid]

She'd pursed her lips at his excuse, giving him a knowing look but deciding to drop it instead. He then spoke the very thoughts she'd had, bringing a smile to her rosy lips. If people didn't know better, it would be easy to assume they were twins. They were inseparable for the most part and that likely fed more into their father's dismay. But, despite the challenges they'd faced in life, one thing had remained constant, and that was their bond. Aspen had adored her brother for as long as she could remember, looked up to him, always wanting to be just as strong and fearless as him. Their father didn't seem to like that much either, but his opinion of her mattered not when her brother held her so highly.

As he set about getting everything he'd need, Aspen took his cup, rinsing it as he spoke before turning back to him and eyeing him suspiciously. The words meant nothing in particular, really, but it was the way they were uttered from her older brother. Again, she pushed it out of her mind and grinned as he spoke again, nudging her softly before exiting, seeming much more himself now. Aspen bounded out of the cabin after him, smacking him in the back of the head playfully as she ran past. She twirled on her toes to look at him as she walked backwards. "Well, if we'll be hunting bear, you'd better get that head of yours on tight." She said with a wink, lifting her chin at him and sticking out her tongue. Even in her late twenties, it was always nice to behave childishly from time to time. Of course, there's no one she'd rather behave in such a manner with than Lycus.

"Last I heard, the bear was in the northern area of our territory." She said, finally settling into hunting mode, though she practically skipped at Lycus's side. These were her favorite days and they would be going against her favorite prey; something that put her strength and skill to the test. "If I had to guess, it's probably meandering by the caves between the forest and the sea." She thought out loud. If there was one thing Aspen was good at, it was knowing her prey well. She was a huntress after all and had learned it all from none other than her exceptionally skilled brother.

[Lycus Wynfrid]

It was a rarity that Lycus kept anything from her. If something was bothering him, she was the first to know about it and often the only one that could make him feel better. Sometimes, her mere presence was enough to calm the often tumultuous thoughts in his head. And currently, they were dark...so very dark. Like he had become possessed by someone else entirely.

Was this the man, the Alpha, he was to become?

Lycus faltered, looking at his sister for a span of a heartbeat, a second of weakness where he almost said everything, until the humor was back in his eyes instead. No, he would not burden her with this. Besides, there was no saying he would be crazy enough to even attempt any of it. The wolf was brazen, but he wasn't necessarily that brazen.

As they bounded towards the trees, he flinched with the thwack to the back of head. He made it seem like it hurt a lot more than it truly had, glaring at her with narrowed eyes before the grin was back. "You know I function better with it being a little loose." Secretly, that was a bit frightening to think about, but he didn't let it dampen the mood further.

Today wasn't about father. It wasn't about those lingering, evil ideas. This was about spending time with his sister and killing a larger, intruding animal. Strangely, that always made him feel more at ease, and he always enjoyed the excitement of a hunt. Lycus rushed after her, urging her to run faster lest she be smacked in return. And when they were far from the village and a little deeper into the forest, his pace slowed. "I wonder why this one has been so curious..." he mused out loud. Often the wildlife would stay clear of their home, but this bear was wandering where it shouldn't be.

Those keen, blue eyes drifted towards a particular tree, noticing the fresh marks left against the trunk, the bark that was bitten or clawed away. It was marking its territory. His tongue ran along the bottom of his teeth in annoyance, nearly hissing in his aggravation. The audacity of the beast trying to claim land so close to them. It could have the rest of Aldsage, but this was too close to his pack.

[Aspen Wynfrid]

Aspen had rolled her eyes at him, turning around toward the trees as he'd sprinted after her, laughing as she did so. When he'd slowed his pace, she did the same, placing herself at his side as he spoke and considering the words for herself. "It's certainly a strange thing, isn't it?" She asked him. "Even bears don't tend to get this close, but this one is acting peculiar all around." She made a slightly concerned face at him. "I mean, it should still be hibernating, but for whatever reason.." Her voice trailed off. He'd know what she meant. He always did.

Her eyes found the same tree that Lycus had, studying it as she approached, fingers trailing along the marks. This was even closer to their homestead than she'd thought and it almost made her uneasy. Almost. She narrowed her eyes, turning back to look at her brother only to find that he seemed to be sharing her worry. Her eyes soon fell to the ground, searching for anything else. Many of the leaves around the tree had been disturbed with the beast's frequent visits, revealing the dirt beneath. "Certainly likes this spot." She mumbled. In all directions, the path the bear had taken looked just as worn as the next. She pulled her bow and arrow from her back, looking at Lycus once more. "What do you think, brother?" She asked. She was certain he'd understand what she was asking. If the bear was returning here often, they could simply wait for it to return, or they could track it down before its return.

[Lycus Wynfrid]

"Maybe something is wrong with it," he commented quietly. It didn't seem...right. As Aspen said, it should still be hibernating, not marking territory and trying to terrorize a village. Sometimes animals got sick, he noted, and the best thing to do was have mercy by putting it down. None of its body would go to waste; it was something the Wynfrids made sure of with every kill. They didn't hunt for sport, they hunted to survive, and even the lives of the animals were sacred and should be respected. They died to provide sustenance for the clan.

As the two Betas examined the forest around them for more marks or any other indications of where the beast had come and gone, she was posing the important question. Should they stay and wait, for however long that would take? Or should they advance and hunt it down?

Bright blues fell upon Aspen then while the usual mischievous smile curled up a corner of his mouth. She'd know Lycus' answer even before he said it because it was clearly written all over his face. "We are the hunters, sister..." In other words, he had no patience to remain there in the silent forest in hopes the bear would come lumbering back before it was dark. He was too anxious to move, too anxious for the kill...and that impatience could sometimes get them into trouble.

He wasn't waiting for her to agree or argue, however, because he was already on the move again. His steps were as silent as he could make them while rushing across the forest floor; eyes observing everything around them. One false move and they could spook the beast- which would either make it run away or charge. They didn't want either option since taking it by surprise would be the easiest way. Large prints were left in the dirt, a few more markings along the bark of trees as tufts of hair were found snagged against the brush along a path, indicating they were on the right track. How close they were, though, he couldn't quite tell yet.

[Aspen Wynfrid]

He was certainly right. Maybe something was wrong with it. However, it could be anything under the sun and stars and they would definitely need to take a few extra precautions, not only in their hunt, but also in how they would go about treating the kill so that it would be safe for use and consumption. Despite that, the beast had to die, no matter what.

As the grin spread across his face, Aspen matched his with her own, her smile widening at his response. She'd began to move after him, her light body much more easily silenced with her steps. While Lycus may have had to work slightly harder to keep quiet, he had always been excellent at it and had been Aspen's best teacher. While they moved quickly, she was still mindful of her footfalls, able to pick out her next step right while staying close to her brother. As he scanned around them, she turned on her toes every so often, checking their back in case anything was missed or lost in their forward haste. It was only when Aspen noticed the slight disturbance of a nearby riverbed that she placed her hand on her brother's shoulder lightly, using her bow to point in the direction of the small stream. Seems the bear had crossed many times since the bank on either side dipped into muddy slopes. This beast really had no straightforward path. It was all over the place. Perhaps some sort of brain trauma was to blame for its erratic behavior.

Her blue eyes scanned the ground once more, crouching to place her fingertips in the large prints that were left behind. They were still slightly damp, meaning the bear had crossed the stream recently. She looked up at Lycus as she stood straight again and moved forward again, this time at a much slower pace than they'd had just before. "Hasn't been too long since it's been through here. Maybe an hour or so, but that doesn't mean it's gotten far." She mumbled to her sibling. She glanced back at the track they'd been following, the ripped trees that clung to the brown beast's fur. They'd picked up the proper track rather quickly, which only served to mean this situation was slightly more dangerous than they'd anticipated. This was a bear who thought it was on top of the food chain; a bear that though it had no predators to worry about.

[Lycus Wynfrid]

It was more a matter of keeping the clan safe. A single bear couldn't do too much damage, but it was still dangerous. It could still wander too close, and they had young and elderly to worry for. Oddly enough, though, this was making it all the more interesting to him. A hunt was always fun, always got his adrenaline pumping, but this was new and, dare he think, exciting as well.

Lycus moved carefully and quietly, not needing to look over to know that his sister was close. They'd done this numerous times before, they've practically perfected it. Despite the times of challenging each other, it was all in good fun. In reality, they worked better together and moved in a unit, able to communicate with simple body gestures or looks. They could have been twins with how close they were, and Aspen was the only thing that kept him grounded enough these days. This day and this hunt was something he desperately needed right now.

Feeling the touch to his shoulder, he slowed to a pause and followed her gaze towards the trickling stream. Everything was pointing to the fact that they were on the right track...and possibly very close. Aspen was able to discern this by the footprint and it made him cautious immediately.

Suddenly, his hand shot out to gesture for her to be quiet and not move. Lycus listened for a few seconds. "Hear that?" he whispered. And she would hear nothing but the river. Absolutely nothing. The birds were no longer singing in the trees, there were no longer small animals rustling through the brush. Something had silenced them...and it wasn't the wolves. Those bright eyes met his sister's, and he mouthed two words, it's here. Somewhere.

The Beta was slow to turn around and scan their surroundings before he froze instantly. In the direction he faced, clear across the stream some distance away, the beast was shambling in that languid pace. Its head rose then, where those black eyes spotted them almost right away. They were intruders in its territory now and the deep-throated bellow was the only warning they would get before it started to lumber towards them.

"Go," he told Aspen quickly, perhaps too coolly for having a bear charging towards them. Lycus drifted towards the left, knowing his sister would take to the right.

[Aspen Wynfrid]

She's quieted instantly as his hand shot out, her eyes locking onto him as he stilled. At his words, she furrowed her brows in confusion before it occurred to her. The silence was deafening. A small, wicked smile spread across her lips as he mouthed the words. With him, she turned her head slowly before both pairs of eyes rested on the beast, just as its own beady blacks found them. What a magnificent creature it was, opening its large mouth and showing its teeth before the deep-throated sound rang through the silence, splitting it and causing it to echo through the trees. She didn't need Lycus to tell her to go, she was already on the move as the word left his lips taking her position to the right as he moved to the left.

She readied her arrow in her bow, holding it loosely as she moved to use a tree as her shield. She stood only half behind the large pine, giving herself a clear view of Lycus and the bear as it barreled in their direction, stopping where they'd once stood and standing up on its hinds, roaring again and huffing as its snout searched the air. They'd taken down bears before, just none acting as strange as this one was. It was only natural they reacted with slightly more caution than perhaps they would normally, but it seemed the should-have-been twins were still having a bit of fun with it.

Aspen let a shrill whistle escape her, an indication to Lycus she was preparing her shot and also a means to get the bear's attention. As the best looked her direction, she pulled the arrow back, taking a breath as she did so, exhaling slowly as she let her arrow fly. It whistled through the air only to strike the ground as the bear suddenly returned to all fours, charging towards her. 'Shit.' She cursed at herself. She should have been more patient with her initial shot. No matter, though; the huntress never missed twice. She stood in her place as the bear moved towards her, again taking in a breath and releasing it as she let another arrow soar, this time striking the bear in its chest. It wasn't enough to kill the beast, but it was enough to stop it in its tracks and allow Lycus a chance at his own attack while Aspen changed her position, moving so her back was now to the stream.

[Lycus Wynfrid]

It was strange. There was something clearly not right with the animal, despite it acting how any bear would with hunters in its territory. For a moment, Lycus let it slide that this wasn't it's territory, which made it all the more weirder. But the bear was a massive grizzly; its paws pounding the earth with every single step. He could feel it reverberate beneath his boots, hearing nothing but the thunder of its approach towards them.

The arrow was immediately slipped onto the string of his bow, and Lycus idly wondered why he hadn't brought a spear- that would have come in exceptionally handy right about now. Better than their bows or his trusted axe, and he felt foolish for not thinking of it. Then again, his mind was still a jumbled mess and sometimes he often made things more difficult for himself than they needed to be. Otherwise, where would the fun be in life?

Aspen's whistle drew the bear's attention as it reared up, her first arrow missing. It gave the beast enough time to gain on her, sending Lycus into momentary panic. It wasn't like him to do so or even remotely misjudge his sister's abilities, but he worried before her second arrow struck true. Of course, it only temporarily made the bear growl in frustration, slowing its pace down as it was becoming wary of the two wolves surrounding it.

As she drifted towards the water, he let his arrow fly where it embedded itself into the creature's leg. Lycus was already notching another arrow as the bear flailed in annoyance and in pain, belting out a roar that shook deep within his chest. It was quite clear that pelting it with arrows was going to do little (or they would be doing this for hours). The beast was massive- they had to strike it somewhere vital like its eye or throat, and even then Lycus was having some doubts.

The beast kept changing its position, turning back and forth because it wasn't sure which Wynfrid to try and pick off first. There was a fire in Lycus' eyes that burned during a hunt, and those vivid blues watched it carefully; his upper lip lifting up in a snarl as he waited for it to make a move. Ever so slowly, he began to move closer to his sister, meeting her gaze for but a moment as he craned his neck- a silent indication of what they had to do.

It was time to piss this bear off to get it to rear up again so they could deal a fatal blow. But it began to charge right for them and the second arrow he loosened that hit its side did little to slow it down. As the creature was close enough to swipe with one of its massive paws, Lycus was diving out of the way; falling into a roll that brought him back up to his feet. A hand was already reaching for a third arrow.

[Aspen Wynfrid]

Lycus was quick as he'd ever been and Aspen was careful to keep a watchful eye on the bear as her brother moved, letting arrows loose to strike the beast. When he was close to her, meeting her gaze, Aspen simply gave him a stiff nod. The bear charged again and Aspen stood her ground, pulling back the string of her bow, arrow loaded. She glanced sideways at Lycus, a twisted smile curling her lip as her blues landed back on the large animal. Now was not the time, but it would be soon. Aspen needed a shot from the side.

She quickly released the tension on the bow-string, careful to not let go of the nock, spinning on her heel to her left. She was still dangerously close to the animal who belted out again, only slightly turning its head as it called out furiously before it turned towards Lycus to do the same. Just when it wasn't looking, Aspen shot her arrow, straight into the bear's foot. The animal jerked it's paw into the air, crying out as it did so, but it wasn't enough to get it on its hind legs again. Clenching her jaw, Aspen moved so that her back was to the tree, taking a deep breath before appearing on the other side, now behind the bear as Aspen faced the creek. She looked at Lycus, giving him another nod.

If he could distract the bear long enough, she could put an arrow into its back and hoped that maybe, just maybe, it would be enough to make the bear stand up. Then and only then could they deliver the final blow. Her hand patted the axes tied to her side as she looked at him. If he threw his ax hard enough when the bear stood, it might be just enough to at least weaken it enough for the final, lethal strike. It was definitely going to take more than a few measly arrows to get the job done and Aspen was only half-delighted that the kill would likely end in a lot of blood.

[Lycus Wynfrid]

Again, why didn't he bring his spear? This all would have been far easier and dealt with a lot faster if he had. That just proved that he wasn't in his right mind today, no matter how much he struggled to be.

Even still, the thrill of the hunt was exhilarating, and watched as his sister moved and pelted the poor beast with arrow after arrow. Sure, it wasn't yet lethally hurt, but it was angier the bear more as well as slowing it down a little bit. But with how close he was to it, Lycus could see the strange madness in its eyes...and madness he often wondered if he saw in his own when he looked in the mirror. Or if this was what he appeared like when that rage took him over and he couldn't control himself.

Instead of a bear, perhaps he was just a sickly, rabid wolf.

Lycus kept his distance, but remained as close as he possibly dared. He wanted it to pay attention to him while Aspen made her way around. Bright eyes flickered to her, noting her subtle message about the axe. Slowly slinging his bow over his back, he retrieved the double-bladed weapon from his side. He had one, and it had to count when he used it. So instead of distracting the bear with the weapon, he tried to keep its attention on him.

Gripping tightly to the handle of that axe, Lycus cried out and growled obsencities at the creature, ensuring that its attention remained upon him. He began to sidestep, trying to get it to turn for Aspen to get the right angle. If she succeeded, he'd be able to get a better aim at the bear's throat and chest.

[Aspen Wynfrid]

She smirked at her brother's display, the way he moved and yelled out, keeping the beast's attention with ease. She was always happy to have her brother along, but today, she was feeling particularly grateful for his presence. As skilled a huntress as she was, Aspen knew well that she would not have been able to handle this on her own. It made her praise herself for a brief moment for leaving Khan behind. The wolf was oftentimes too brash and fearless, especially during a hunt. Leaving him within the territory limits of the clan's homestead meant she had one less thing to worry about. Now, it was just her and Lycus, engaging in the dance of death with a mad animal that had no self control and relied purely on its brute strength. It was not as cunning as the circling wolves.

As soon as the opportunity arose, Aspen drew back the string of her bow, her thumb grazing across her cheek as she lined up her shot, closing her eyes to say a silent plea to the earth, that it might guide them now and grant them success. If this didn't work, they were screwed. Or at least, it was going to make things much more difficult than they already were. She exhaled her breath slowly as her eyes flew open, seeming brighter against her pale skin as she released the arrow. It whistled in the air before striking the bear in it's back. The beast reacted immediately, bellowing out as it finally rose to its full height, massive paws swatting through the air, looking almost like it was trying to reach the arrow that had planted itself between its shoulder blades. It had gone much deeper than the Wynfrid had anticipated, which was good. She looked to Lycus, hoping that he'd readied himself, hoping that this had worked.