The Rouge Prince and the Alpha Werewolf (KUSTARD!)

Survival Instinct

Sans wolf form.

Today was a test for Red. It is how we knew if the younger members of the pack were ready to go out into Sakonean on their own.. he would be flying solo for the next 24 hours. I was supervising, of course, and he knew that. This would test his instinct. See if Sakonean taught him anything... if I taught him anything. It'd been three days since he was poisoned, and I was still weary to do the test, but he'd insisted. I think he knows that I can't stick around much longer. I had to return home.. I have a pack to protect.. I snapped back into focus when Red came out of the shelter, looking rather confused. I had told him he was being tested the next day, I never said when. Welp, now he knew. He looked around, suddenly on high alert, realizing that he was alone. He disappeared and reappeared just as quickly, weapons in hand. "coulda told me he'd be goin early so i woulda been ready.." He grumbled a few choice words to himself and headed out. I wonder what he was going for? I took to my wolf form and followed.

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Red ate some Spire Berries before he was on the move again, couching occasionally to look at tracks. He was hunting. Testing himself too, it seemed. He wasn't doing bad either, avoiding tracks that looked predatory and checking the wind on occasion to make sure he wouldn't be scented. I felt proud. If only he was a wolf. The whole being able to turn other monsters into werewolves thing was a hoax. Nothing had that ability. Not werewolves, not vampires. Well, I supposed Ink MIGHT have that ability, but even his power was limited. Red was tracking a Jackalope. Wonder how this'll go? Soon I was him. Genoswap. I could see the tell tale slash on the guys chest from when he escaped G. My beta had been so surprised with the fight in the critter that he'd escaped and G decided to track something else. A nostalgic rumble left me. Red had crouched, apparently having seen him. His eyelights focused as he pulled out his knife. Unfortunately, Genoswap must have heard me and was staring down Red, well it looked like since the mage was hidden. I'd have to apologize later for disturbing his hunt.

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The Jackalope had taken off, but Red was diligently following his tracks. He was dead set on hunting this creature, wasn't he? The Spire had boosted his magic levels considerably. As soon as he saw Genoswap ahead of him, he ran after him, getting fairly close to him. Red readied his knife again as Genoswap tried to push to go faster. Then he suddenly fell behind, catching both me and Genoswap of guard. The Jackalope faltered in his step, looking behind himself to see where Red went, only for a blade to plunge into his neck. I hadn't see it coming. It seemed that Red couldn't aim properly running, so he made it look like he gave up, instead risking a successful distance shot. He made sure Genoswap was dead. "uh... rest in peace 'r whatever." I sweatdropped. It was something at least. He built a fire right there and skinned his new meal. Smart. He cut him up, and started cooking, lining the meat with the ever flavorful Ruva flowers. Guess he liked them. He used the knife to start carving into the antlers. I'm curious as to what he's gonna make out of them.

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After eating his fill, he put some out for me and packed away the rest in the Jackalope hide. It works. He returned to camp and stored his food away in the shelter. From there, he went back to carving, gaze shifting around once in awhile to keep an eye out for predators. I'd taken the meal greatfully and now ate while I watched him work. How lucky that he hadn't run into anything yet. "shit." Seems he broke whatever he was trying to create. It couldn't be easy, carving with the knife he had. He sighed and put his project down. He seemed to contemplate something before standing up and stretching. He started walking again. Now where was he going?

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Red glanced around the clearing as I settled myself comfortably in the shadows. My jaws parted in a yawn and I shook away the desire to sleep by physically shaking myself off. "i can do this.. i can do this.." Again my attention snapped to the mage. He looked uneasy as he stared at the targets he'd carved into the trees while I was 'busy'. Of course he was uneasy. He probably had some ptsd or something from his previous attempts to use magic. I felt sympathy for him. With his display today, and his willingness to practice magic.. Red didn't need me anymore. I am free to go home. He can survive. I hesitated. I really had fun with him. Fancy pants and all. He was a great student.. I smiled and turned away. I hope we meet again. I ran towards my home territory.