Sniff, sniff...

A wild predator searches from her prey in the middle of the night.

--
D4, LN, Rawr + VP: 4d10o10k3 17

One strike is what it takes, and the game goes down. Fierce and sharp fangs tear the creature's flesh, searching for its pumping heart.

A feast of blood sprays the white snowy ground.

Not too far from there, four other wild creatures pad along the margin of the river, quietly. The one at the front, larger than the others, seems to notice a sound, or maybe smell, coming from nearby, but for now it doesn't seem to mind.

It then suddenly jumps inside the river, followed by two others, the smallest of them lagging behind a bit. Some loud splashes come from somewhere in the river, followed by some chirping and squealing that can be heard despite the burbling water.

After some time, all seems quiet again, the four shadows moving behind some snow-covered trees. One of them seems... different, for a moment. As if human-like.

But that might be just a trick of the light... sure it's just four animals?

OOC:
D4 LN - Investigation (Notice)/ Perception: 4d10o10k3 18

D4 LN - Athletics/ Agility for fluffy fishing: 6d10o10k3 26

The predator seems rather odd. Unaware of the approaching animals observing nearby. It keeps eating.

--
D4, LN, Perception: 2d10 7

The four animals keep lying down on the snow, apparently relaxed as they share their catch. One of them does look towards the predator now and then, and one who were observing them closely would have the impression that there was some confusion in the eyes of the largest four-legged creature.

In fact, was it a four-legged creature? From time to time, it seemed as if it had hair, and actual hands were handling the still-moving fish. Then one more look and it were clearly paws and a head with small ears covered in fur.

... despite one look and another stolen at the predatory deer, for now the four creatures keep to themselves.

Oblivious of the critters nearby and satisfied with her meal, the bloody stag –– or doe –– moves into the darker patch of the wild and disappears from the immediate view.

--
OOC: Moving away deeper into the wild and away from the waterfall proper.

As the blood-stained cervid moves deeper into the woods, two of the furred creatures sniff and look around, as if probing for danger, and slowly approach the remains of the prey.

The largest animal soon follows, some hushed voice-like chirps warning the little one to stay behind. Snout high as if trying to find something out in the air, it seems to find nothing and goes to analyse the remains with the others before doing anything else, spending a rather long time. The two that went first to the remains seem slightly less confused than the large animal, but they all seem a bit puzzled...

The small cub meanwhile chirps from time to time and seems to be finishing off some remains of a large carp.

OOC:
D4 LN - Hunting/ Perception - 'What is this thing? Where is it heading?': 4d10o10k3 14
D4 LN - Otters trying to find out something about this weird predator. Hunting/Per, unskilled: 3d10k3 15

The bloodied cervid seems to be simply walking away satisfied. Moving up the stream alongside the wilderness, she dips her head into the water to wash away the blood over its might rack.

Once doused, she raises her head towards the sky and shakes the water off. A faint aroma of cinnamon fills the air with the water sprinkles going up. She then runs with all her speed into the white forest proper, as if something triggered her attention.

Further analyzing the carcass, the otters might remember that a deer is not a carnivorous animal.

--
Exit if not stopped

Hantei Kinsen wrote: ↑

Sat Jun 19, 2021 3:46 pm

The bloodied cervid seems to be simply walking away satisfied. Moving up the stream alongside the wilderness, she dips her head into the water to wash away the blood over its might rack.

Once doused, she raises her head towards the sky and shakes the water off. A faint aroma of cinnamon fills the air with the water sprinkles going up. She then runs with all her speed into the white forest proper, as if something triggered her attention.

Further analyzing the carcass, the otters might remember that a deer is not a carnivorous animal.

--
Exit if not stopped

The otters knew full well that deer are not carnivorous animals - that is in fact why they seemed so confused and intent on understand what had just happened.

They went back to the river, staying closer to the margin, and, trying to follow the scent, made their way upstream. They did hope to find out more, but the most they caught was the strange spicy aroma that seemed to wander through the snowy forest.

The animals looked at one another... and decided to go track that curious smell for a while longer. They seemed to catch a good hint of it, this time, although whether that would be much help was still to be seen.

The otters were surprisingly swift... but probably not as much as a deer, at least not in a forest covered by snow...

OOC:
D4 LN - Hunting/ Perception once again - "Can we track this smell?": 4d10o10k3 23

D4 LN - Athletics/ Agility - Trying to run after the weird heart-eating deer: 6d10o10k3 25

D4 LN - Otters doing the same. Athletics/ Agility for them. Swift 2 for whatever it's worth : 5d10o10k3 22

The snow did in fact slow down the deer, and then, made its tracks disappear. In its place, human footprints.

Not too far, the scent gets stronger, and a silhouette can be seen returning to the road to the castle from the wilderness they're inserted.

--
D4, LN, Run vs TN 25: 4d10o10k3 17

Hantei Kinsen wrote: ↑

Sat Jun 19, 2021 5:47 pm

The snow did in fact slow down the deer, and then, made its tracks disappear. In its place, human footprints.

Not too far, the scent gets stronger, and a silhouette can be seen returning to the road to the castle from the wilderness they're inserted.

--
D4, LN, Run vs TN 25: 4d10o10k3 17

As the scent grows stronger, the otters slow down, wary of what they're going to see.

Seeing a human's footprints, the largest otter stops and looks ahead. She seems curious, but hesitates to come closer.

Some time later, some clicks can be heard for a moment, and another human silhouette walks slowly and quietly closer to the road, followed by three otters.

OOC:
D4 LN - Stealth/ Agility: 4d10o10k3 30

D4 LN - Stealth/ Agility for the two adult otters: 2#6d10o10k3 46 22

The human silhouette, still oblivious of being followed, apparently has bright hair. She adjusts her winter clothes as she continues to walk away.

Hantei Kinsen wrote: ↑

Sat Jun 19, 2021 6:47 pm

The human silhouette, still oblivious of being followed, apparently has bright hair. She adjusts her winter clothes as she continues to walk away.

Seeing the bright hair, the other human stops, and after a silent gesture the otters follow suit. One looking at said human closely would see a rather confused look... it wasn't clear to her who it was - not someone she had dealt with closely, from what she could reckon.

But... could it be? Surely not...

She smiled a bit, although the smile hid some worry. Apparently there were others touched by the spirits in the palace? But... was that a normal animal spirit? A stag acting as a predator?

She wondered... but, for now, four otters returned to the river.

(/scene?)

/Scene

Thank you!