Daughters of Science (Saricia)

[Loklorien s'Ilancy]

Schwartzweld


The sun had just broken over the horizon, pale yellows and pinks spreading across the sky while light, airy clouds scudded their way overhead. The dark was slowly banished to make way for a new day; a new light. The overgrown wildlife had been given free reign over this world for so long that it was used to such peaceful awakenings. Birds chirped happily in the treetops, and small ground creatures poked all about in search of their first meal of the day. Most mornings began as such, under the watchful eye of the sun.

But the peace was not to last long, as with a startled cry that alerted all around, a flock of brightly-colored pa'arna birds took to the sky. Those on the ground craned their necks up for only a moment before bolting as well.

And behind the call, close on the heels of any who were unfortunate enough to be in their path, were the grinning maws of a pair of vornskrs. Through the underbrush and over fallen tree limbs they bounded, surging ever onward. It wasn't long until both broke out into the daylight, out from beneath the canopy of leaves overhead to thunder after their own morning meals. Over a sweeping plain the two beasts continued, the two kheh'a'cats they chased doing their best to stay one pawstep ahead of their imminent doom.

One of the vornskrs, lithe with shock-white fur, had slowed just enough to allow her hunting mate the lead, and with a broken yellow and white gaze that never strayed from their quarry, she gave a huffed growl of encouragement, knowing that her partner would readily take the offer of the first kill.

[Saricia Ask'lan]

The longer, lithe chocolate colored vornskr, gruffed in understanding and dug her paws into the ground in order to make haste her chase now that she was the lead hunter. For days, they had been stalking this particular herd of kheh'a'cats. After much patience and picking the proper terrain to instigate the attack, the white one had ordered the charge. As the younger 'pup' who was learning how to hunt, she had fallen several paces behind her leader and flanked the kheh'a'cats to keep them splintering off. They wanted a large meal to fill their bellies and one prey would not do.

They had to keep close in the chase with the open plains providing ample opportunity to escape. The younger vornskr panted under the strain of keeping pace, her limbs unaccustomed to such long distance running. Fatigue was setting in and she had but one chance to take down one of kheh'a'cats.

Her head shook violently as if to awaken her senses before bounding twice, digging deeper into the ground so she could leap further to close the distance. Claws hit their mark but she hadn't a proper hold. She began to loose her grip.

Fear of failure gripped her heart and in one last desperate attempt, the barbed tail whipped forward and stung into the flesh of the kheh'a'cats before she fell away. The younger hunter rolled against the ground, whimpering in displeasure before coming to a halt ...

She had little idea if the singular sting of her tail was enough to stun the cat for the leader to take down.

[Loklorien s'Ilancy]

Saricia's attack had been, whether she realized it or not, lethally effective. The Kheh'a'cat she'd stung stumbled, sliding into the soft ground with a prolonged slide, coming to rest in a crumpled mass of fur, flesh, and heaving chest. s'Il, her body surging forward, took the second cat as her own. She dug into the ground, launching herself forward with renewed energy and vigor. Her body seemed to open up, her front paws stretching out wide as she pushed off from the ground one last time.

The cat she'd taken as her own gave on last yowl before the larger Lupine decended upon it, driving it down into the ground.

The white beast bore down on her victim with a ferocity bourne of instinct, toothy maw clamping around the neck of the cat, and with a violent shake she rendered her prey lifeless. It was a merciful kill, and after a few moments to make sure the cat was truly dead, s'Il slowly regained her feet, rising to stand. Her head turned to look in the direction that her student had come to rest.

Her tongue lolled out in a happy grin - they had both succeeded this day. Both would eat well.

[Saricia Ask'lan]

Saricia rose to her feet and shook off the dirt and grass from her fur. She felt utterly disgusting, as if she had been out in the fields all day with grazing Kudri with sweat beading between folds and encased places upon her person as grime wormed its way onto her skin. When she was satisfied that as much as the filth had been shot off from the shaking, blue eyes returned towards her Master who appeared ... happy?

This confused the young Lupine, but the panting smile and pride that beamed from s'Ilancy's eyes made her head swell in surprise, which only grew as she saw the still form of the Kheh'a'cat that she had stung. She had done it! Her instincts had helped her see through this challenge and though not as primal as her own Master's attack had been, it was effective. A successful hunt was what was required of her this day and she had delivered.

Trotting over to Lok, she submissively nuzzled underneath her Master's chin before meekly heading towards the cat that was still alive, but unmoving. She knew what had to be done next and licked her chops before pacing around the fallen prey. Saricia had never taking life like this before and fear of how this may change her was prevalently weighing on her mind.

[Loklorien s'Ilancy]

s'Il had returned the nuzzle before falling still to watch Saricia make her way to her own prey. She knew the turmoil the younger Lupine was feeling, but she also knew that her charge would not fall short of what she would become. It was a knowledge that gave her pride, to know that her people were once more rediscovering themselves. Much like Vega, Saricia was coming to understand so much more of herself and of where she had truly come from.

Her broken gaze rested on Saricia, encouraging and patient. She could sense the younger Lupine's worry, and stretched out with her own thoughts to comfort. s'Il had never been proficient enough in speaking through the Force, but she at least knew enough to convey feelings. This she did now.

Feelings of growth, warmth, and above all pride flooded outward from Loklorien s'Ilancy. Loklorien Losstarot. Like a blanket of warmth and comfort they enveloped Saricia Ask'lan. Saricia Kroenen.

[Saricia Ask'lan]

Paws paced timidly around the stunned prey, still hesitant to deliver the final killing blow. The only killing blow in her entire life - and this was not about stepping on insects or putting down a feeble kudri. This was a willing act to end the existence of another life in order to sustain herself. Her mother had did all of the hunting and tending to the livestock, choosing which one of them would be supper for the coming weeks. After she had took ill, Saricia never found the stomach for it, opting to purchase or trade for meat...

Pausing in her stride, Saricia looked up to her Master, blue eyes scrunching together as if mustering up the courage to do what was required of her. However, soon her head rose high as if swelling with the pride that emanated from Loklorien. It felt empowering to have another person believe in her once again. Something primal almost sparked as Loklorien's encouragement touched a part of her soul that had been buried beneath timidness and fear.

Eyes fell upon her prey once more, already teeth bared to strike, Saricia dug in her paws and paused. Her snout wrenched out warm puffs of air as she built up the courage to pounce.

And then it happened. Instinct groomed by latent ancestry sprung Saricia into action. She wasn't sure when being passive had been replaced by warm blood spilling into her mouth and running down her jowls. She violently shook her prey's neck, hearing bones snap and felt the blood gush forth.

It was the most exhilarating and monstrous experience that she had ever done...

[Loklorien s'Ilancy]

Hours later...


Sitting in the great room of the Losstarot manor, s'Il allowed herself a rare moment to settle herself comfortably in one of the wide leather chairs that rested before the hearth. A fire had been built, warming the room that three Lupines now inhabited - s'Il, Saricia, and Karrnage.

It was the Kroenen Lupine's first introduction to the man, and thus far it seemed to be going... well.

The elder Lupine had become used to, and even somewhat comfortable with the Colonel's bookish nature that bordered on fanatical at times, and his innocence of many aspects of simple life had been an object of constant amusement. She was always patient with him however, and took the time to answer any questions he asked of her. She found herself enjoying his company with each visit home.

Now, sitting happily, ensconced in the depths of a chair that threatened to swallow her whole, Loklorien s'Ilancy looked for all the world like a content mother as her eyes closed half-way and a satisfied smirk spread across her lips.