The disease that wiped the earth of mankind has returned, and it's starting to change its hosts somehow. Reports of unearthly powers are arising all over Toren while more and more become infected.
updates
< 11 JULY 2017 > The staff auditions and OTMs are officially OVER. I'd like to welcome our two new staffers - Lutheus and Crowenth! There will be some new events soon, as well as a big announcement - so watch this space.
< 20 JUNE 2017 > ATTENTION! Staff auditions are up and running. Please click here if you are interested in helping me run Clash.
< 06 JUNE 2017 > It hasn't been too long since we've opened - but we've already got a fresh new look. If you find any bugs in our new skin, please let me know so that I can fix it. Old members might have to update their avatar links and profile info! x
< 07 MAY 2017 > CLASH has officially been reopened and is ready for action! The plot, rules and canons have been revised - read more about it here.
Post by Middendorffi on Jun 14, 2017 11:15:17 GMT -5
It was peak time for the salmon rush, the hordes of fish nearly halfway to their destination, many dead bodies behind them, and many more to come. Hurrying upstream, the morning sunlight glittered across the bubbling waves of a steep-banked river, scales flashing in the warm rays as the fish leapt through the chilled autumn air, scaling the cliffs of a small waterfall.
Some fell just short of the top, others flopped onto the rocky banks themselves, trying to find their way back into the water; still more made it, while a few managed to bump against the furry muzzle of an aging bear.
Ridged head of crooked nose swung to and fro, jaws open wide as he caught fish after fish. The old bear, having attended many such events in his lifetime, was an expert at this. Jaws clamped down as yet another fish flew into his mouth, teeth easily piercing the soft flesh as he slammed the flailing body into the rocks underneath him. Claws held the catch down as he tore hungrily into the fish, the distinct odor of fresh salmon wafting into the air, a scent that was difficult for any bear who knows it to ignore.
Pebbles tumbled into the river, clattering down with the rushing water of the falls. As he tossed the remains of his most recent of catches aside, the large bear lifted his head once more, jaws ready for the next catch that was sure to come.
This place was infinitely better than Tenebris, that was for damn sure. Even though everything here was gray, rocky, and hazardous, the Stone River was still better than that lake with all its crocodiles and venom-spitting serpents. The sound of rushing water filled his ears, that deafening roar reminding him of just how small he was. The mist that rose up from the water crashing against the rocks choked his senses, and it also dampened his pelt, making him feel cold. He squinted at the path he was following down to the riverbank, and when he stepped onto a medium-sized flat-faced rock, it shifted alarmingly beneath his paw.
"Holy shit," Cayo uttered, his ears flicking back.
He glanced around for an alternate route, for while he had been startled, he certainly hadn't been deterred. He wanted to get down to that riverbank so he could catch himself some tasty salmon. Or, more accurately, sift around for dead salmon. Or, even more accurately, mooch off bears who were surely standing in the current catching and killing fish as they struggled to travel up river to spawn. Cayo just had to be sneaky about it, and he was confident that he was talented enough to pull it off. In fact, not a single bear would even notice he was there, he could guarantee it.
There was already one he could see who had claimed part of the river, the large brown bear perched and ready to sink his teeth into any salmon that breached the tops of the small waterfalls. It seemed like he had already caught quite a few, which was good news for Cayo for two reasons; this bear knew what he was doing, and he was getting full (which meant he would be less inclined to see the red fox as an appetizer).
After several prolonged heartbeats, Cayo eventually made it to relatively much stabler ground, the rocks no longer sitting on such a steep incline. Now at the river's edge, he carefully approached where the brown bear was tossing the remains of his fish. The mostly stripped carcasses were stuck between rocks or washed up on the bank, taunting Cayo with their white bones. With any luck, this guy was being sloppy, and the red fox would be able to find some marrow on them, at least.
As he began picking his way toward one of the tattered bodies of the salmon, he glanced up in time to see the brown bear grab yet another fish, its jaws effortlessly crunching through scales and tissue. Admittedly in awe, Cayo curiously watched him slam the salmon onto the rocks beneath the water in one swift and powerful movement. It made Cayo instinctively shiver a little bit in apprehension, but it was ultimately a fun kind of fear that made his adrenaline spike and make him feel, well, alive.
He noticed the bear's many scars and twisted snout. This guy probably had a lot of cool stories, Cayo thought. "What a bad-ass," he said to himself, excitement bubbling in his chest as his imagination ran wild.
DON'T LIE TO ME
[attr="class","nikki22"]IF YOU'RE PUTTING THE DOG TO SLEEP, THAT PET YOU JUST COULDN'T KEEP
Post by Middendorffi on Jun 17, 2017 7:51:40 GMT -5
Torn ears twitched at a sound beside him, angled nose wrinkling at the musky scent of a living mammal. Teeth crunched bone as he bit off the salmon's head, throwing it into the air just before he swallowed it whole. Bent muzzle swung around, beady eyes squinting at the small, colorful figure of a red fox, sniffing along around the stones not far from him.
The bear wasn't sure what to make of the face it was making, and turned his head around to gaze at the area around him, wondering just what it seemed so amazed by. Stony riverside marked by pockets of trees; nothing very astonishing, save, perhaps, for the flight of salmon, at least to the uninitiated. Licking the scraps from his lips, his eyes returned to the slim canine.
The bear dipped his head in a brief greeting, moving his gaze somewhat sidelong of the other animal's face. He couldn't help but feel a bit of appreciation for the vulpine; foxes were hardly anything to worry about, and nowhere near as annoying as a wolf (much less a pack of them). He'd always thought the bright beasts could be a neat distraction, sometimes observing as they romped in the distance. As such, he didn't want to seem too intimidating...it was rare to see such a small animal so close to something as big as him, or with an animal with as fierce a reputation as his species so often held. Even if he was surrounded by tasty-smelling salmon carcasses.
Perhaps his bulging belly also helped ease what otherwise might have been a mood of idle foulness. With a tilted smile creasing his otherwise rough figure, the bear bent his head to pick up his most recent of catches, tossing it towards the fox. He expected the fox to simply take its newfound prize and run with it, but even so he stepped back, opening up a bear-sized space between him and the waterfall's ledge.
"Why don't you give it a try?" he offered, gruff voice lowered into what he hoped was a gentle, unassuming enough tone. He wondered how a fox, with such a narrow, pointy muzzle, might fair trying to catch fish as they flopped hard, even painfully at times, against one's own face; doubted its ability really, but it might be fun to see it try anyhow.
Last Edit: Jun 17, 2017 7:59:54 GMT -5 by Middendorffi
882 WORDS, FOR Middendorffi , SORRY FOR TAKING SO LONG! I HAD LOST THE ORIGINAL POST AND IT TOOK ME FOREVER TO REWRITE IT.
[attr="class","nikki20"]
Cayo watched in amazement as the bear grabbed yet another fish, tossed it into the air, and then caught it with one swift upturn of his maw. He bit off the head in a way that should have made Cayo shiver with some fear, but he instead whistled a little under his breath, thoroughly impressed (and also intrigued) by the strength of this incredible beast. He knew he was supposed to be quick about grabbing some of the bear's scraps before high-tailing it out of there, but he was fascinated. And regardless, the other hadn't noticed him yet, so he was still good.
Except that assurance was rendered obsolete when the bear changed his posture to look toward him, his eyes gazing directly at Cayo from where he stood at the edge of the waterfalls. It admittedly spooked him a little bit to see that he had finally been noticed, but he didn't run. Instead, he tilted his head somewhat, looking at the other curiously. Would he tell him off? Would he try and chase him? Cayo wondered if this bear shared his belief in the philosophy of 'live and let live'. He certainly hoped so. He was just a wee little fox, after all. He was no threat to a big ol' brown bear! There was no need to get all territorial. And that was everything Cayo would to say to him if he had to work his way out of a not-so-desirable confrontation.
His fearlessness proved to be a good thing, as the bear merely dipped his head in greeting. Cayo relaxed, eagerly returning the gesture. Yeah, as far as he was concerned, this bear was cool. He was glad that this was the bear that he stumbled upon first, out of all the bears that were probably stationed along the winding path of the river.
Cayo continued to watch the bear as he bent down. He furrowed his brow somewhat in confusion when he saw the other pick up a fish, and he pondered as to what the fellow was up to until he threw the carcass his way. It landed nearby on the rocks, only a couple paces away from him and still within the reaches of the river's tumbling current. Cayo dumbly stared at it for a heartbeat, taking a moment to realize that this must be a very generous gift from his newest dear friend over there.
He couldn't believe his luck! This bear was a saint.
Cayo skittered forward, slipping a little bit on the slick surfaces of the rocks as he stretched his neck outward to tug at the salmon's pink-colored back. He grabbed it between his teeth, and he yanked it back away from the tugging waters of the rushing river before it could disappear. Playing it safe for once, the red fox clumsily carried the fish back to where he had been a couple paces away from the bank, preferring not to risk getting swept away while tearing into his meal.
With the enticing scent of the salmon wafting upwards into his face, he hastily ripped off a chunk of its lean flesh before gracelessly chewing and then swallowing it. Great stars above, it tasted amazing. So much better than mice tails and rabbit feet. The meat was lean and even a little salty, and it was so richly fresh. Cayo was in heaven, no doubt about it. And he had the large brown bear to thank for this experience.
The red fox lifted his head and regarded the other once again, licking his upper lip. He opened his mouth to say thank you, but the bear spoke before he could utter a syllable. Why don't you give it a try?
He had stepped back enough to open a space between himself and the riverbank, further inviting Cayo to jump in and give catching salmon a go. The red fox's eyes widened, and despite how crazy the offer was (and how suicidal it probably was to take it), he still found himself considering it. How often does a bear look a fox in the eye and tell him he should step up beside him and try fishing? Not often at all, Cayo wagered. The salmon he had was half-forgotten at his paws as he turned his gaze slightly to look at the river, fish still swimming against the current in a desperate bid to return to their breeding grounds much farther upstream.
They had to be nearly as big as he was, especially the humongous ones that breached the surface like god-damned dolphins. He returned his attention to the brown bear, and he wondered if the other was trying to play a joke on him. It was possible, and Cayo wasn't sure if it would be one he could laugh at as well, seeing as how going along with it could result in him, y'know, drowning or something.
"Depends. Will you teach me some of those sick moves, bud?" he asked skeptically, although he still had a mind to just go for it (despite how embarrassingly flawed his attempt would probably turn out to be). And while it had indeed crossed his mind, he wasn't too bothered by the idea of injuring himself, honestly.
His paws certainly itched from the rising temptation.
DON'T LIE TO ME
[attr="class","nikki22"]IF YOU'RE PUTTING THE DOG TO SLEEP, THAT PET YOU JUST COULDN'T KEEP
Post by Middendorffi on Jul 22, 2017 10:06:19 GMT -5
The old bear watched the fox curiously, eyes glinting with mirth at the stranger's reactions.
He found it rather silly how the canine moved, especially once it snatched up the salmon, its graceful bounds weighed down by the hefty fish. Even the way it ate was rather charming, pointed muzzle ripping into flesh while the tall ears rotated about the skull, remaining alert to its surroundings despite the gift.
Well, another, far more hungry bear, could be just around the corner. The river was flush with those who'd already won their place, but the surrounding landscape was left to be roamed by those looking for an easy way in on the goods.
His tongue once more swiped over his lips as he watched, removing any remaining that he'd happened to have missed the first time. The bear's nose twitched as the fox dug in, the salmon's scent wafting over him in kind with the canine's own natural odor.
Even with all he'd ate during the salmon run (as his bulk could have suggested, were bears not always so fat), he was still a little hungry; he was only a bear, after all. Once this distraction was over, he intended to get back to work, catch a few more fish for himself, and then sleep off the day.
The fox seemed to forget the fish for a moment at the bear's offer, which took the bear himself by surprise. He wouldn't have expected such a willing scavenger to leave a free meal unattended, especially such a relatively big (and likely rare, as he guessed it) one, but the canine sure did seem to be considering his offer seriously.
Small, ragged ears twitched at the fox's words, dark lips pulling upwards in a smile. The bear dipped his head in agreement, claws scraping against the stones as he turned himself around, shuffling back into place.
"Watch closely," he instructed the fox, carefully positioning himself just so.
He took a brief moment to think on how a fox might do it; he couldn't just let all the fish flop against his face, muzzle lazily parted for one to simply fly in, as he would usually, for he was certain such collisions would knock the poor creature right off his paws! So, he would have to go with the more active tactic of actually aiming a bite, as though his stomach were simply starving, though it most certainly was not.
The bear lowered his head, hunched his shoulders, bunched up his muscles, and parted his jaws only halfway. Fish continued to leap over the waterfall. The first few were too far. The next one after them might have appeared too close, the bear ducking away as he would never have done, only, in the next instant, to shoot his head upwards, front paws rising partway from the ground as his neck rolled backwards, and teeth met the lower half of the salmon.
In one fell swoop, the bear tilted his head, and slammed the flailing fish into the rocks. Although the fish was disoriented, it wasn't dead, and he immediately swung his head the other way and back, giving it another few whacks until it was well and still.
The bear then, checking to see that the fox was still observing, and trying to be slow about it, flipped the fish into the air. Instead of biting or swallowing this one, however, he rose on his hind paws, and slapped the fish towards the fox with a chortling huff.
It could have been another gift, but he'd eat it even if the fox didn't, once this little training session was over; he wasn't going to let a good fish go to waste. He wasn't sure how much a fox's stomach could hold anyhow; for all he knew, it was already halfway full from what it'd already ate of the first salmon.
Tipping his muzzle, the bear once more stepped aside, allowing room for the fox to give it a go.
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