Unearthing a Den (Attn: Bodycount, Keys, Snow)

Bodycount's eyes go wide as a cold tide of apprehension suddenly and silently sweeps through the quarry - almost gasping for breath as the sudden, unfamiliar feeling of being prey sweeps over him in a suffocating wave. It forces itself down his throat and even through his skin, deep into his bones. Without even realizing it he is on his feet, a shiver running down his spine as he looks into the distance. His first instinct, that of taking the war-form and regurgitating the tension in a savage howl, is repressed, though barely.

"What was that?" Snow's voice asks behind him, only it doesn't sound like Snow's voice as he's used to hear it. It sounds small and afraid. Like a child alone in the dark.

His own heart is beating so hard that it hurts, so loud that it's hard to think, rattling against his ribs like a frenzied, wounded pitbull hurling itself towards the bars of a cage. Taking a deep breath to steady his voice, he gives Snow the only possible answer he can think of:

"Grendel."

Then he exhales, willing himself into Urshul form, walking slowly a few yards off with his nose to the wind and his ears perked, conflicting emotions of awe and exhilaration evident from his demeanor as he tries to get a closer impression or bearing on "Grendel", whoever or whatever it is. He misses the rest of the conversation between Snow, Keys and the squirrel. He misses the deal. He even misses the sight of the three big squirrels exiting the cave.

What finally brings him back to his senses is Snow's warning growl. Whipping his head around to the unlikely sight with a start, Bodycount lets out a snarl of part surprise, part confusion and all aggression, compensating for his anxiety just moments before.

In a few bounds, he is right next to the others, crouching low, hackles raised and teeth bared, ready to leap right at the throat of the biggest of the squirrels at the slightest sign of provocation, or at Snow's command.

Johnny flips off NightBird’s safety as he rushes toward the house alongside Breaker and Wukong. Shifting into his Dalu skin, he scans the dry and barren ground of their new home, taking in every hiding spot, every vantage point, and any available cover. As he does this, he spots the three large, canine forms of Snow, Bodycount and Keys a short ways off across the grounds.

“Breaker!”, he growls as the beta wolf charges toward the open door of the house, “Over there!”. He points to the group for the benefit of the others, before quickly searching for the ideal place from which to lend support fire.

The giant squirrels are sniffing the air, and one is eating the nuts you have in front of you. It is being consumed very rapidly.

Having chosen his location, Johnny sprinted toward the excitement. He could still barely make out the scene, as several small hills obscured his view. As he scaled the crest of the final hill, he dropped suddenly to one knee, and resting his elbow on the other knee, raised his rifle and peered through its scope.

NightBird lent Johnny her eyes – the unhindered vision of a winged hunter of the night – and his gaze pierced the darkness. He quickly surveyed the scene, and spotted his adversaries. His surprise at seeing the massive rodents Keys had so briefly described did not hinder his focus or concentration as he guided scope’s crosshairs to the beast nearest his packmates. (Aiming)

“Well!” he said softly as if he’d been given a rare treat. “Don’t say I never take you squirrel huntin’ anymore, NightBird!”

"Those aren't beshilu," Wukong says calmly as he observes the three dog-sized squirrels. He remains in his human form, apparently no more or less agitated then he was before.

"What kind of place did you find us? An empty shadow, the Pure on two sides and now apparently giant specimens of the sciuridae family? Anyone here speak to beasts?" Wukong asks loudly, his grin returning.

"Cause if not..." Wukong says shifting suddenly into Dalu as he faces the squirrel den.

~I'd like to speak to the Keeper now,~ he says switching to First Tongue.

The three go about eating the nuts now, ignoring the lot of you.

Breaker follows Johnny's directions and casts a very pissed off look at Wukong as he shifts to Dalu, That's it! Me and that asshole are gonna have us a talk!

But first things first. Breaker sees the three huge squirrels consuming the nuts and shoots a look at Snow, "What are your orders?"

Snow seems momentarily unsure of the squirrels. They did not respond to her warning. They appeared little more than normal squirrels, except for the size. But what was truly strange was that they were going about their business as if there weren't a pack of wolves easily as large as they advancing directly upon them. Any squirrel, no matter how large, should at least be concerned.

She returns to her dalu form, staring at them strangely. "They seem...harmless."

Keys' hackles are still up. No squirrel, flesh or spirit, tiny or giant, should be unphased by a whole pack of uratha growling bloody murder at them. She had no explanation for their presence -- hell, she had no explanation for their existence! -- and not knowing how they fit in to the weirdness here made her skin crawl. The quarry had been shut down for polluting the ground water, but the files she found didn't say anything about crap that would create atomic freakshows like this! They reminded her of an old horror movie about giant ants her father liked to watch.

"Kill. Leave for Carrion-Crow. Burn nest," she growled in the First Tongue, never taking her eyes of the rodents.

There are no morenuts. The two "smaller" ones start sniffing the air, while the middle "bigger" one squeaks at Snow.

Johnny watched the massive squirrels quizzically through NightBird’s scope. They had finished their meal now, but still seemed at ease surrounded by a fierce pack of hungry predators. This certainly didn’t seem like a hostile situation, but that didn’t matter. His job was to be ready for any turn of events in every situation, so he continued to target the huge rodents, his finger resting easily on NightBird’s trigger, ready to squeeze at the first sign of attack, or at Snow’s signal.

"No, not yet," Wukong says to Keys suggestion.

~Show yourself now, unless you want to see your pets dead. I know you're here.~ Wukong says addressing the den again in First Tongue.

Breaker positions himself next to his Alpha, "Alpha, what are your orders?"

Snow rubs her forehead, thinking.

"Wukong is right. These things aren't natural. There's something else here, still hiding. It must be making these things this way."

She glances about for the squirrel spirit that Keys had summoned to see if it is still about.

Bodycount's growl takes on a whine of frustration as it dawns on him that this might not turn into a fight at all. He looks up at Snow, almost pleadingly, and addresses her in the First Tongue.

Let me go in there and drag it out. I can do it.

Its still there, hiding behind a rock.

Breaker sizes up the giant squirrels, "Perhaps we should take these things out. Killing off the pets might show whatever is in the hole that we don't fuck around. Johnny's ready to take one out right now if I give the signal."

"I agree with Breaker. It's had its chance to speak, let's show it we mean business," Wukong says, still watching the hole.

Johnny's trigger finger tightens slightly, He can make out enough of the discussion from where he is to know his cue may come at any moment.

"Patience, NightBird", he tells the spirit softly, sensing her anticipation for the hunt. Johnny felt the predatory urge as well, but it wasn't enough to distract him. Markus had driven into him the necessity for unbreakable focus when targeting the enemy; the task at hand and the larger mission were his only world right now. Never mind that the enemy happened to be a seemingly docile, dog-sized rodent.

Snow considers the hiding squirrel spirit and the possibility that it might still prove useful. But her pack was itching to bite and tear at their unknown adversary, and she wasn't far from feeling the same way.

"Very well," she says, addressing them all in a commanding, confident voice. "Breaker, the battle is yours. I will bring up the rear."

She then turns to the squirrel spirit as the others surge around her. "You have done as we asked," she says to it in First Tongue. "Tell us where we should leave your reward, and if it is not in the midst of Pure territory you will find it as promised. Then be gone from this place before you are drawn up into the hunt. I will not protect you should you get in the way."

"How about in the shadow of the biggest tree near here." He points a big squirrel paw towards a large willow tree that is a little east of the quarry, right next to the train tracks.

Everyone who is squirrel hunting roll initiative.

01-01-2008 10:00 Squirrels rolls 1 die for initiative 10

Breaker gets the signal and moves in front of his Alpha, "You hold back Alpha. Bodycount, Keys, Wukong," He gives the signal to Johnny to strike a killing shot, "you take out whatever Johnny leaves alive."

Breaker readies himself, he will let the others handle the three giant squirrels while he protects the Alpha in the unlikely case that one of the big rodents gets past. He is waiting for something larger, more deadly, to come out of the hole, Make 'em bleed and bring me the leader!

Spoiler:

Snow nods at the squirrel, acknowledging its request and dismissing it. Then she frowns as breaker moves in front of her to take up a defenisive position.

"I'm not totally useless, you big idiot!" she scolds him, the name calling something that has carried over from their childhood. "You're embarrasing me. Stop treating me like I'm some delicate flower that might get trampled and fight! The others need you more than I do."

Spoiler:

Bodycount is airborne the moment Breaker gives the signal, not even waiting to see where Johnny's shot is going to land before hurling himself at the closest squirrel.

Spoiler:

Breaker barks back behind him towards Snow, "The battle is mine! The command is yours! Have a problem? We talk later!"

Keys flexes her urshul claws in the dirt beneath her paws as she watches Breaker leap for his target, then, with a twitch of her head to indicate her own target to the watching sniper, she leaps at a squirrel, tearing into its side and opening up a soft spot for Johnny to target.

Spoiler:

Attack Roll using Can Opener pack tactic to eliminate any armor it may have versus Johnny's attack (from Rage, p. 158)

Spoiler:

"Are they trying to get shot?" Wukong asks still in Dalu form and standing near Breaker. He's watching the squirrels and is ready to move should it be necessary, but the idea of catching a bullet in his back doesn't sit well with his sensibilities.

Spoiler:

"Fine, fine," acknowledges Snow to Breaker. "You're right. The battle is yours!"

The moment Johnny and NightBird had been waiting for arrived; Breaker had given the signal. At the same moment, Bodycount and Keys leaped into the fray, forcing Johnny to hesitate only a fraction of a second to make sure lead would hit its mark. But Johnny had spent years with his pack, firing into the thick of the combat with the entire lot of them, their teeth and claws locked with his targets’, and he had mastered this art. His companions trusted that his bullet would find its home, and he intended to see that it did.

Spoiler:

Order:
Breaker 17
Snow: 15
Squirrels 15
Keys: 14
Johnny: 13
Wukong: 13
Bodycount 13

Squirrels have no armor, defence is 2. First round is surprise round (so no defence for any of the squirrels) Squirrels are Left, Right, and Center. Repost your attack rolls as your turn comes up. Snow goes before the squirrels. Johnny, Wukong, and Bodycount can go in any order between themselves.

Breaker holds back and allows the plan to unfold. He is ready for anything and watches his packmates rip through the squirrels.

Spoiler:

{Modification to my previous post, taking into consideration my Initiative}

Keys flexes her urshul claws in the dirt beneath her paws. With a twitch of her head to indicate her target to the watching sniper, she leaps at a squirrel, tearing into its throat with her teeth.

Spoiler:

Bodycount leaps right at another squirrel, attempting to bury his teeth into its exposed throat.

Spoiler:

The moment Johnny and NightBird had been waiting for arrived; Breaker had given the signal. At the same moment, Bodycount and Keys leaped into the fray, forcing Johnny to hesitate only a fraction of a second to make sure lead would hit its mark. But Johnny had spent years with his pack, firing into the thick of the combat with the entire lot of them, their teeth and claws locked with his targets’, and he had mastered this art. His companions trusted that his bullet would find its home, and he intended to see that it did.

When the opportunity presented itself, Johnny applied even pressure to NightBird’s owl-talon trigger. The weapon jerked slightly from the recoil, but Johnny controlled its motion like a pro. The explosive blast that propelled the bullet from its cartridge was dampened by the home-made PVC suppressor, diminishing the sound below the levels of a small cap gun. The spent cartridge was flung from the rifle as new one was rolled from the magazine to take its place.

The bullet rocketed down from the hilltop to find its home in the squirrel’s side, a little behind the shoulder blade. He had killed and cooked enough squirrels in his childhood to know a bit about their anatomy, and he was certain that the point he’d chosen would put the bullet through the bestial rodent’s lung and heart – if it penetrated that far. The shot was beautiful – with enough accuracy to instantly kill a grown man. This was one very grown squirrel, however, and Johnny didn’t wait to see the results. He was already preparing the next shot.

Spoiler:

Bodycount Rips apart his squirrel, and one of them slumps dead from a bullet.
(Death rage checks from both Johnny and Bodycount)

The third squirrel squeaks and tries to run, but is impaired by the pain, and only gets to the entrance of the cave.

Bodycount's jaws close around the squirrel's neck with deadly force, the force of the impact sending them both sprawling as his fangs sink deep into the squirrel's soft flesh. A torrent of blood sprays from the torn jugular into the werewolf's mouth, onto his face, and all over the surrounding countryside, the sweet, coppery taste and the scent of the animal's terror stoking his already aroused killer instincts.

His jaws squeeze the giant rodent's neck with all the force he can muster, the animal kicking helplessly, impotently, as its upper spine gives way to the pressure and snaps like a twig with a loud, dry sound.

With what seems to be a great effort, Bodycount wrenches his maw free of his fallen prey, its ruined throat releasing another red, hot spray of blood as the last beats of the creature's heart pumps the precious liquid out of the wound and into the dirt.

With the fur of his muzzle glistening red and a mixture of blood and saliva dripping from his open mouth, Bodycount raises his head and coughs out a wild, guttural howl into the night.

Spoiler:

Breaker looks back at his Alpha as if to say, See? You hardly need protection from these things! He then turns his focus back on the hole and the last remaining squirrel's efforts to make it to safety...

And Wukong does not attack for his action this round. So, that leaves round 2. Squirrel has 2 defence. Breaker posts next. Please post in order. Posting out of order confuses people, hence why this first round is so clusterf*$^ed.

Breaker leaps forward and unleashes a brutal punch to the squirrel's midsection in an effort to keep it from running down the hole.

Spoiler:

The squirrel whimpers in pain from the attack.

Snow goes before the squirrel get his action.

Snow follows quickly behind her brother, and as he punches it she attempts to grab hold of its large neck and twist it until its broken. Unfortunately things don't go according to plan.

Spoiler:

Wukong leaps forward, raising his staff in a two-handed over head grip and swings downward, putting his full strength and momentum into the blow. There's a sickening crack as bamboo connects with bone, his weapon connecting with the giant squirrel right between its beady-black eyes.

Spoiler:

Keys growled deep in her chest as the squirrel twisted out of her jaws and made a break for the hole. Licking the blood from her lips, she slips low to the ground around her packmates as they crush the life out of the giant rodent. Her blood racing and her senses heightened by the thrill of the hunt, she pretends to be focused on the squirrel in front of the hole as she moves nearer and intentionally turns her side to the hole, tempting anything within to strike at her and reveal itself to the rest of the pack.

{Keys has Danger Sense activated, and is preparing to grapple and immobilize anything that comes at her. She will delay her action to wait on the potential attack.}

The third squirell falls dead.

Everything is quiet.

Wukong steps back and takes a deep calming breath resting the end of his staff upon the earth as he surveys the carnage. When nothing makes itself immediately known he glances at Snow and then Breaker.

"Well then. My suggestion is we follow Keys' first suggestion. Although I'm inclined to burn the bodies as well. I don't think Carrion-Crow would appreciate it if we poisoned the local scavengers, even unintentionally," he says glancing at the dead squirrels.

"After that... I don't know about you, but I'm still hungry and there's quite a bit to talk about."

Johnny’s heart pumped hard with the excitement of a predator having made the kill, and he could feel the exhilaration in NightBird, too. He calmed himself quickly, though. The others expected something more here – he had seen it in their movements and the way the continued to regard the hole. His job may not yet be done here. He remained motionless, gun raised, and waited where he knelt, anxious to see what else might appear; ready for the next hunt.

Spoiler:

Finish hunt, Keys lets out in a frustrated whine as she sidles closer to the hole. Then eat. Then no surprise interrupt eating.

Breaker gives the signal to Johnny to come in. He squats down a peers into the hole, "Yes. We do have much to talk about." Moving over the bodies of the squirrels he gives one a testing kick, "Let's start with cleaning our own house. What is the nature of these things? Outside of being giant squirrels of course. And what's goning to happen with this hole?"

Johnny lowers his rifle and comes down the hill to join the group, inspecting the squirrels (and his own handywork) as he arrives.