Stoneline Bluff Pack

However, just before you decide to dig a temporary den in the roots of an old oak in order to hide yourself from larger carnivores and any rival wolves so you can think things though, another scent comes wafting into your nostrils, savory and beguiling. You follow that dazzling scent until you find yourself thrusting your muzzle into the ravaged remains of a young deer. You tear into the carcass before you even know what you’re doing, devouring it as though you’d never tasted food before. It’s not a big meal; hardly older than a fawn, but meat is meat and you couldn’t care less how pitiful the pickings are. You gulp down the somewhat ragged flesh until the edge of your hunger is conquered and, unbeknownst to you, curl up among the bones and torn pelt of the carrion and fall into an exhausted, heavy sleep.

~~~

You’re pulled from darkness by a set of paws working at your flank. You smell him before you hear him growl deeply and see his fierce teeth glinting white at you in the starlight. The male ushers you to your paws with fierce nips and snarls, angrily stating that this is his pack’s territory, and that they don’t appreciate loners loping around and making themselves at home where they aren’t welcome.

He isn’t alone, either. You see three more wolves, a female stalking over to investigate the deer you ate, and two more males showing off a fearsome display of dominance, demanding that you get out unless you have a death wish. The female also snaps, stating that you are a thief stealing food from the mouths of their pack’s pups, and suggests to her companions that you be taken to the alphas to be dealt with. After one wolf arguing they should kill you on the spot for trespassing and the other for stealing prey that wasn’t yours, the head male and the female ultimately decide to present you to their leaders. You allow yourself to be herded away, your heart pounding now with apprehension. They make rather unflattering remarks, commenting that you’re probably some dumb omega from a challenging pack sent to spy on and steal from them. Hurmph, if only these fleabags knew. You decide it’s wiser to keep your jaws clamped, snarking back could easily get your throat bitten out by the comportment of these thugs, and you follow them deeper into their land where the scent of a pack is much stronger...

🏆 PACK GOALS 🏆

✔️ = Accomplished || ❌ = Yet To Be Accomplished

• Breed first mutated wolf. (❌)

• Obtain additional puppy stages, Newborn and Young. (❌)

• Compete all five Tutorial Quests with Tala. (✔️)

• Scout uncharted territory. (✔️, discovered the Prairie biome)

• Unlock Herbert the Herbalist. (✔️)

• Purchase Feed All, Play All from Grove. (❌)

• Bring down large prey animal with a single hunter. (✔️, Bull Elk killed by Kinta)

• Have an Alpha / leader with 20+ level. (❌)

• Have an Alpha / leader with 1000+ stats. (❌)

• Successfully scout and explore all available biomes and relocate. (❌)

You wake up whining piteously. The sound the large cat had made had been so profound and earth-shaking that you can still the harshness of the vibrations in your own throat and lungs. You'd never seen such fierce beasts before, especially all in one place! So many sets of minacious teeth and powerful claws, such power in their muscular bodies. You never knew any cat beyond a cougar could become so big and so fierce!

"What are you whimpering for?" Snapped a sleepy-looking female beside you. Unbeknownst to you, you have kicked her in the ribs during your unsettling dream. "Honestly, if you want to sleep like a noisy little whelp, then go to the birthing den and ask one of the pupsitters to snuggle you and make it all better." She adds with a condescending sneer.

Letting this rude remark slide, you explain your strange dream. She snorts and chuffs, her shoulders bouncing as she tries to contain her laughter so her snoring denmates won't be disturbed. "Get a load of this mutt," she wheezes softly. "Cats? Bigger than cougars and living together? You're actually frightened of them? Wake up and smell the morning breeze, you lily-livered mongrel!" Shaking her head, the she-wolf turns her back to you and returns to her sleeping position. "Anyone with half a brain knows that cats of any kind or creed are waaaay too self-seeking and arrogant to look after one another, unlike us proud wolves."

As her breath deepens and slows as she reenters slumber, you rest your chin on your paws and stare out at the moon creeping over the mountaintops.