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Post by charlotte on Sept 27, 2008 20:44:12 GMT -5
Jasper had ran through the forest with Donahue and Desdemona, leading them away from La Push and further north still to the tip of the continent, in Alaska. He feared that while he taught his way of life to the pair a lost hiker may appear, or the boundary line might be crossed. Not allowing that sort of accident, he pressed through the snow to bring the couple to Alaskan wilderness plentiful of carribou.
The trees changed from birch to firs, and from bare branches to evergreen. Rivers were frozen still, and bears were asleep in their caves. Borders were crossed, and Canadian mounties were avoided by a hundred miles. They climbed over treacherous mountains with ease, and he felt his throat begin to burn with hunger.
Jasper reached the ground of hunting he searched for, and knelt low in a crouch amid the trees. He motioned for Desdemona and Donahue to listen, and spoke.
"There is a pack of caribou approaching in a few minute's time. I can only watch one of you at once. First, I will demonstrate. After, the first person to try will repeat my actions as best they can. The thing to remember is to be still, and quiet. Understood?" He said calmly.
"And don't be nervous if you cannot do it the first time, it is difficult for us at first. Practice, and patience is all."
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Post by aellison on Sept 29, 2008 16:16:32 GMT -5
Donahue was elataed to be following Jasper on this journey, what he thought was a journey to a new and better life. He occasionally caught the scent of a hiker but knew enough to stop breathing until he was sure it was safe again. His eyes faded from red to gray and finally to black and crazed. He looked around fitfully, finding it harder to control himself. Even the smell of the caribou was overwhelming. He didn't trust himself to speak, so he nodded and sat, watching intently.
Desdemona didn't notice the long hikes or endurance running. She didnt' tire or bore of the constant movement, there was too much to see with the animals and varying plant life. She was constantly smiling ever since she left Deynira and Kasimir, her attitude immensly brighter. She could even meet Donahue and Jasper's gaze with confidence now, as long as she was not concentrating on anything in particular. Now she was gazing at the caribou, more like glaring enviously at them. "Alright, we'll wait." She said to Jasper, a bit impatient to eat.
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Post by charlotte on Sept 29, 2008 17:36:18 GMT -5
"Now watch. First, you have to spot the individual you wish to take." Jasper pointed at his next victim with his index finger. "Then," he said as he hushed his voice, "you crouch back, you creep along the ground silently, and then yo attack." He motioned with the same finger for Desdemona and Donahue to watch his prey, and then crawled through the thick padding of snow.
Slinking through the ice crystals like a lion, he sank into his heels, and released himself like a snake about to bite. And that is exactly what he did. He knew the hunger began to eat away at Desdemona and Donahue's patience, so he would be respectful and quickly carry of his corpse, draining it of blood without a wasted moment.
Jasper walked silently and upright toward his pupils, wiping the blood off of his lips as he felt his eyes grow warmer. With the pack of caribou still grazing the dying foliage, he knew it was time they tried for themselves.
"Donahue, I understand you have done this before. Would you like to go first?"He asked.
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Post by aellison on Oct 2, 2008 16:41:44 GMT -5
Donahue was listening raptly to Jasper's every word, not wanting to miss a thing. His eyes flicked from Jasper's face to the animal with frightning rapidity. He was all but salivating as Jasper pounced, seeming to take forever to fall upon the animal. He inched forward when the unnerving scent of blood hit him and had to hold himself back and force himself to simply watch. He closed his eyes at the end to control himself, his throat burning painfully. He snapped his head up at the sound of his name and stared almost angrily at Jasper. Then, when he realized it was his turn, he nodded enthusastically. He almost stood to run, but remembered he was supposed to copy Jasper. He looked at Desdemona with a smile and slithered off on his stomach.
He approached the grazing animal from behind, still slinking along. He knew his legs were powerful to launch him over the caribou, but he only wanted to land on it's back. He stretched his legs and pushed off, landing perfectly on the deer and driving it to the ground with a broken neck. He wasted no time in gorging himself on blood and rose victorously, grinning at Jasper and Desdemona to show them he had completed the task.
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Post by charlotte on Oct 2, 2008 21:50:51 GMT -5
Jasper was thrilled at Donahue's success. He felt a short hint of anger from him as he drank, but he knew it was only instinct beckoning. He met back with Desdemona and Donahue, feeling his joy.
"Desdemona, have you any questions before you begin? You must be thirsty." He motioned to the pack of deer that was still undisturbed from the silence of Donahue's graceful attack.
Jasper crouched amongst the frozen foliage, and awaited the sight of the next attack with anticipation.
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Post by aellison on Oct 7, 2008 19:51:01 GMT -5
Desdemona licked her cold lips expectantly, never taking her eyes off of Donahue's attack. She jerked her head up when Jasper said her name and stared at him dolefully until she got the message. "Oh. No, I... think I can do it." She said, her voice a faint whisper, carried away by the arctic wind. Without a word she crawled forward, biting her lip anxiously.
She went as slow as she could, but it was hard not to dash out toward the animal that was grazing, it's side facing her. When she was mere yards from the creature, she watched the light pulse of blood behind it's ear and without warning, snarled loudly and lept. The animal looked up but it was the last thing it saw, as she broke it's neck and fell with it, tumbling a few feet. She was craving the blood and drank it hurridly, ignoring the thunder as the surronding caribou stampeded from her massacre. She then threw the drained body aside and loped gracefully back to the pair, her golden eyes shining anew.
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Post by charlotte on Oct 7, 2008 21:42:50 GMT -5
Jasper was pleased at their success. Sure, they scared the herd, yet they both attacked gracefully and drained the bodies of blood, leaving their black eyes to fade into a pale gold as his were.
"Fantastic, Desdemona. We must despose of the corpses so as no hunters will find them." He led the pair through the icy woods, carrying the bodies and then shredding them with his hands, making it appear to be a bear attack. He washed his ivory hands in the rushing, arctic river that bubbled nearby, and spoke to Donahue and Desdemona once more.
"If you are still thirsty, we shall stay. I have fed enough for myself, all you have to do is fufill your thirsts, and allow me to escort you back to Forks. We have still more to do; we owe the pack a meeting free from violence."
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Post by aellison on Oct 8, 2008 16:37:01 GMT -5
Donahue walked confidently along Jasper, dragging his own caribou by the antlers. He ripped it with ease, almost getting carried away. He was beaming the entire time, immensly proud of himself. He smiled even wider at Jasper's suggestion but was not thirsty, though he could hunt all day. "I am fine, it would be nice to see the pack again."
Desdemona's throat burned with confidence, rather than hunger for the first time in her life. She made simple work of the animal without a word, replaying the attack in her head over and over again, feeling a squirm of pleasure every time. She turned when Jasper spoke. "I'm not thirsty, can we see the pack please?"
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Post by charlotte on Oct 9, 2008 0:20:23 GMT -5
Jasper grinned at the thought of speaking with the pack once more under friendly, and non-violent circumstances. Besides, he felt he owed them something. For what reason, he knew not, but he felt it all the same.
"I do not have cell phone service outside of Canada, but if we run, and fast, we could be back in a mere matter of hours...I look forward to meeting them again."
He gave Donahue and Desdemona a friendly pat on the shoulder, crouched into the freshly fallen snow, and launched himself from his heels into a run. He had never been as fast as Edward, yet still he would find himself within the city limits of La Push in a short time. Yet, before he broke the speed which would not allow a conversation, he spoke to the pair.
"Do not think I am arrogant in saying this, but I am very proud of you both. Not only of your attention, but of your compliance and skill. I have very high hopes for you, and soon you shall be peaceful in your entirety without having to concentrate. Soon you will be able to teach others as I have you."
Jasper smiled at them, then stared straight ahead into the icy forest ahead, preventing his inner emotions from being expelled into the atmosphere, and from his golden eyes from which he could not lie.
He had never dreamed this hunt would be as successful as it was, and he knew that if he had only had this sort of instruction when he was younger, he could resist the temptation. All he could do was help Donahue and Desdemona so they would never feel the pain he did, and their smiles and gratitude helped to restore him to a peace of mind he had not felt for a hundred years.
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Post by aellison on Oct 10, 2008 17:24:29 GMT -5
Desdemona's still heart seemed to swell with Jasper's praise and she picked up speed, all but skipping in elation. She felt like a baloon, free to drift, no longer tied down to those whom wanted to destroy her. She grinned at Donahue as they ran, anxious to tell the pack how well she had done.
Donahue smiled but was no where near as excited as Desdemona. This was not his first kill, nor his hardest, he did not feel that he needed or deserved the praise. Still, he did not complain, keeping a fast pace with the Jasper and Desdemona until they got to La Push. He slowed and inhaled deeply, smiling gently. "It seems that we're not far at all."
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