Post by Taxx on Mar 22, 2018 10:47:45 GMT -8
Rayden
Female She/her
Arctic wolf
three 1/2 YEARS
history
Valkin and Tella were- and probably still are- loners. After a failed bid for the rank of Alpha, Valkin was cast out. As his devoted mate, and currently recently pregnant, Talla followed. They left behind parents and another litter, none of which felt the desire to follow their kin into exile. By themselves, they found hunting was rather more difficult, but small prey was plentiful and they managed. Two attempts to join other packs ended badly, and loners they remained.
Talla’s pregnancy progressed, making it harder for her to help in hunts; the two began to adopt a chase-and-ambush strategy in order to catch the prey Talla needed to nourish the young growing within her.
But when she birthed the pups, a litter of four, hunting got even harder for Valkin. It was a constant, daily struggle to provide enough meat for Talla, in order for her to be able to feed the little ones, and all too often they all went hungry. Valkin especially suffered, for he ate little of what he did catch. Hunger was a constant fellow, pinching stomachs and giving a plaintive note to the pups’ cries.
It took two of the pups before their first month ended.
The surviving two fared only slightly better, but somehow, Valkin managed. When they were old enough, Talla once more joined her mate on hunts, and their chances of success crept upward. More food was a good thing for the growing pups, and they demanded a lot of it. The fact that there was not nearly enough of it led to squabbles, however, and one of them- the female they had tentatively begun calling Rayden, was proving to be a bully in the attempts to get more of it.
She had no trouble dominating her smaller, more fragile brother, named Lanik, dealing out sharp nips and tiny raspy growls- and he never fought back. Talla and Valkin tried to be more fair, stopping Rayden from eating everything that was brought to the den, but it only worked while they were vigilant, and as time went on even a hard glare from the head-strong girl could cow her brother into backing away and letting Rayden do what she wanted.
The pups' play consisted of more of the same- Lanik hardly played, merely rolled over and suffered Rayden's mauling until Talla broke them apart. Rayden felt nothing but disdain for her weak brother; in her mind, he was only good to soothe the ache in her jaws from her teething, to boss around and torment in little ways.
His death was sudden; the wolverine that had scented the two pups charged in with no fear. Rayden, for the first time made frightened, dove for the den. Lanik, however, wasn't fast enough. The wolverine made short work of the young wolf; Rayden, safe in the den, couldn't help a shudder at the high-pitched shriek of pain that ripped through the air: her brother's last cry before life left him. Perhaps luck was on her side, or the wolverine was simply hunting for its own young; for whatever reason, the weasel didn't continue its attack by killing the last pup.
Talla and Valkin were devastated by the loss of their child, but Rayden, aside from the irritation of losing her playmate, could hardly bring herself to miss Lanik. There was no more need to share, no more scoldings about being mean- just her, her parents, and all the food she could eat.
Though still young, Talla and Valkin decided it would be best to start taking Rayden with them on hunts- leaving her behind was too risky. So she began to go along with her parents, not helping them but always within eye- and earshot. She made the most of it, watching the way Talla and Valkin worked together to chase and bring down prey, and gradually she began to ease into it, learning the careful art of stalking, how to tell a sick animal from a healthy one, and teamwork. More than once, a missed pounce from one wolf led to another being in the perfect position to make the catch. Rayden learned willingly, quickly. and thrilled at helping to catch the prey she ate.
It was a perfect life, just the three of them- and then Talla and Valkin went and ruined it. The she-wolf's pregnancy, as well as the realization that she was going to have competition, caused jealousy to rear its head. She didn't want more brothers and sisters, and she remembered all too clearly how hard her parents had worked to provide for her and Lanik- were they expecting her to run herself ragged for pups she cared nothing about?
No, she wasn't doing it. Her parents could do this on their own; it was their decision to make more bodies to care for. Both Talla and Valkin were stunned by their daughter's refusal to help, and then angered by her selfishness. If she wanted to act that way, then maybe she ought to leave.
If, for whatever reason, they thought the idea of living on her own would cow Rayden into giving in, they were sorely mistaken. Between a life forced to look after squealing pups and a life where she was free to do what she wanted, she chose freedom. And she walked away without a backward look.
Of course it wasn't easy- she wandered where she chose, and hunted as best she could on her own, but her best technique was the ambush and she missed more than she caught. She managed to fill her belly from time to time, sticking to the smaller creatures and those lucky enough to find dead- nor was she above scavenging, if the opportunity arose.
She's not yet found a place she likes- or maybe she's just not yet ready to stop. At three years, she's quite taken with the idea of being on her own, even if it's the harder of the two possibilities. Most packs would welcome a young female, but the thought of being tied down makes her nose wrinkle in disgust.
Talla’s pregnancy progressed, making it harder for her to help in hunts; the two began to adopt a chase-and-ambush strategy in order to catch the prey Talla needed to nourish the young growing within her.
But when she birthed the pups, a litter of four, hunting got even harder for Valkin. It was a constant, daily struggle to provide enough meat for Talla, in order for her to be able to feed the little ones, and all too often they all went hungry. Valkin especially suffered, for he ate little of what he did catch. Hunger was a constant fellow, pinching stomachs and giving a plaintive note to the pups’ cries.
It took two of the pups before their first month ended.
The surviving two fared only slightly better, but somehow, Valkin managed. When they were old enough, Talla once more joined her mate on hunts, and their chances of success crept upward. More food was a good thing for the growing pups, and they demanded a lot of it. The fact that there was not nearly enough of it led to squabbles, however, and one of them- the female they had tentatively begun calling Rayden, was proving to be a bully in the attempts to get more of it.
She had no trouble dominating her smaller, more fragile brother, named Lanik, dealing out sharp nips and tiny raspy growls- and he never fought back. Talla and Valkin tried to be more fair, stopping Rayden from eating everything that was brought to the den, but it only worked while they were vigilant, and as time went on even a hard glare from the head-strong girl could cow her brother into backing away and letting Rayden do what she wanted.
The pups' play consisted of more of the same- Lanik hardly played, merely rolled over and suffered Rayden's mauling until Talla broke them apart. Rayden felt nothing but disdain for her weak brother; in her mind, he was only good to soothe the ache in her jaws from her teething, to boss around and torment in little ways.
His death was sudden; the wolverine that had scented the two pups charged in with no fear. Rayden, for the first time made frightened, dove for the den. Lanik, however, wasn't fast enough. The wolverine made short work of the young wolf; Rayden, safe in the den, couldn't help a shudder at the high-pitched shriek of pain that ripped through the air: her brother's last cry before life left him. Perhaps luck was on her side, or the wolverine was simply hunting for its own young; for whatever reason, the weasel didn't continue its attack by killing the last pup.
Talla and Valkin were devastated by the loss of their child, but Rayden, aside from the irritation of losing her playmate, could hardly bring herself to miss Lanik. There was no more need to share, no more scoldings about being mean- just her, her parents, and all the food she could eat.
Though still young, Talla and Valkin decided it would be best to start taking Rayden with them on hunts- leaving her behind was too risky. So she began to go along with her parents, not helping them but always within eye- and earshot. She made the most of it, watching the way Talla and Valkin worked together to chase and bring down prey, and gradually she began to ease into it, learning the careful art of stalking, how to tell a sick animal from a healthy one, and teamwork. More than once, a missed pounce from one wolf led to another being in the perfect position to make the catch. Rayden learned willingly, quickly. and thrilled at helping to catch the prey she ate.
It was a perfect life, just the three of them- and then Talla and Valkin went and ruined it. The she-wolf's pregnancy, as well as the realization that she was going to have competition, caused jealousy to rear its head. She didn't want more brothers and sisters, and she remembered all too clearly how hard her parents had worked to provide for her and Lanik- were they expecting her to run herself ragged for pups she cared nothing about?
No, she wasn't doing it. Her parents could do this on their own; it was their decision to make more bodies to care for. Both Talla and Valkin were stunned by their daughter's refusal to help, and then angered by her selfishness. If she wanted to act that way, then maybe she ought to leave.
If, for whatever reason, they thought the idea of living on her own would cow Rayden into giving in, they were sorely mistaken. Between a life forced to look after squealing pups and a life where she was free to do what she wanted, she chose freedom. And she walked away without a backward look.
Of course it wasn't easy- she wandered where she chose, and hunted as best she could on her own, but her best technique was the ambush and she missed more than she caught. She managed to fill her belly from time to time, sticking to the smaller creatures and those lucky enough to find dead- nor was she above scavenging, if the opportunity arose.
She's not yet found a place she likes- or maybe she's just not yet ready to stop. At three years, she's quite taken with the idea of being on her own, even if it's the harder of the two possibilities. Most packs would welcome a young female, but the thought of being tied down makes her nose wrinkle in disgust.
personality
Rayden is, first and foremost, a self-serving creature. Her own needs are clearly far more important any one else's, and she has no trouble choosing between duty or her own happiness. Easily made jealous, she might all too often come across as a shallow sort of wolf. But, while technically true, there is more to her.
Beneath the jealousy and the anger that seems to crop up at a moment's notice lurks a cunning mind. Words are just as useful as claws and teeth, and Rayden uses them just as readily. If she can't best another creature by strength alone, she'll resort to her wit.
Rayden hasn't yet realized that as an unattached female, she can claim land and create a pack; she's quite happy as things are. As a loner, she goes where she wants, does what she wants, living carefree and happy. True, life's a bit hard in the matter of finding food, but she's made it this long.
She's a bit lacking in social interactions, her only constants being her mother and father. She hates being forced to do something, preferring to do things because she wants to, and if pushed too hard she's quite likely to turn sullen.
Hunting is her single strong point; it's something she enjoys- pitting her skill and strength against that of a prey creature, enjoying the simple fact that she needs it to live, just as the prey does. It's the simplest sort of interaction- catch or die, and she thrives on each victory that ensures her survival for another day.
Beneath the jealousy and the anger that seems to crop up at a moment's notice lurks a cunning mind. Words are just as useful as claws and teeth, and Rayden uses them just as readily. If she can't best another creature by strength alone, she'll resort to her wit.
Rayden hasn't yet realized that as an unattached female, she can claim land and create a pack; she's quite happy as things are. As a loner, she goes where she wants, does what she wants, living carefree and happy. True, life's a bit hard in the matter of finding food, but she's made it this long.
She's a bit lacking in social interactions, her only constants being her mother and father. She hates being forced to do something, preferring to do things because she wants to, and if pushed too hard she's quite likely to turn sullen.
Hunting is her single strong point; it's something she enjoys- pitting her skill and strength against that of a prey creature, enjoying the simple fact that she needs it to live, just as the prey does. It's the simplest sort of interaction- catch or die, and she thrives on each victory that ensures her survival for another day.
MADE BYJOY