Citizen 431 Warsh

Artist: Alliion

The cave ground was wet, the cold of the water awakening War in her slumber. She was not used to the cold temperature, the water running down her scaled limbs caused her to jolt awake.

Snorting with annoyance she perked her head up. Ears laid flat on her neck as they usually did. She saw bright white light illuminating the beginnings of her cave, she groaned at the mere thought that light might penetrate into her calm state.

Her ears flicked back and forth trying to catch any sound that could be heard, but nothing was picking up. It was as if the woods themselves had swallowed everyone whole. War wasn’t afraid of small meaningless details, and she stood to stretch her back after a long rest.

The days had gone by while she had slumbered, something she often did after being forced to be around others. As she finished her shaky stretch she felt another cold breeze waft in. Her scales shivered, making sounds each time they hit each other. She yawned and began forward into the light.

She poked her head out of her mountainside cave, the ground was sparkling… and wet. Her first claws touched the snow, it chilled her but it would have to do. Even with the sky supposed to be dark, the dome reflected light off of the snow beneath her feet. Her eyes darted around seeing empty signs of life around the entire viewable forest. Her ears twitched at every step she took, the crunching of snow under her claws. She stopped to take in the air and felt something around her. Her rest had left her hungry, and she couldn’t stand to go anywhere near other rexals for the time being. It was up to her to find some creature she could eat.

War closed her eyes and listened to anything that might grace her ears, the howling of wind through tree branches made it difficult to discern any noises. As soon as she felt hope beginning to fade, she heard the familiar sound of crunching in the snow. Although these steps were much lighter than her own, she was almost guaranteed a small animal. Before moving from her planted position, she sniffed in the area to be sure of the direction - this critter was heading west away from the nearby town.

It would have to do, War cushioned her steps as carefully as she could, the crunches muted by her massive paws. She shivered with nothing to keep warm, but her only motivator pushed her forward.

As she rounded a tree she heard a snap of a twig and yowling barks in the near distance. As she peered carefully around a tree she saw a silver fox calling for others of its kind. It seemed distracted, for the time being, maybe War would be able to worm her way in closer to get the ambush on it.

Her toes curled carefully, and her massive black body almost would give her away but by showing her throat she might temporarily be able to camouflage herself. The crunches were still muted and she stepped as carefully as she could, the fox seemed ignorant of her presence. She took another step, the fox just a few rexals of a length away from herself.

There was no time to spare, she lunged at the animal, and it yipped and ducked under her snout. It just barely avoided her jaw clamping shut with a vicious pop. The small fox quieted itself darting between the trees.

War didn’t give up though, she kept pace with the small animal and weaved through the trees with accuracy. Her effort wouldn’t go unrewarded though as the silver fox attempted to scramble into the spaces between tree roots, but it underestimated the size. War came down on its tail with a flat hand, the animal growling and biting at her armored hand.

She swiftly ended it as the fox was silent. She carefully picked up the body and slung it over her shoulder, turning back towards the direction of her den.

She was hopeful she wouldn’t have to venture into the snow again, her heart raced at the idea of having another difficult hunt again. She groaned to herself, maybe it’s time to head back towards the village. People will start asking where I’ve been though… I hardly have the energy.

Author: Alliion