Man of the Wilds: Arlo Tales

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Man of the Wilds: Arlo Tales

Postby Kooky on Tue Mar 01, 2016 5:22 am

TO THE ARENA AND HOME AGAIN

It had been a normal day for Arlo. He woke up extra early-- enough time to surprise his beloved Taini with a meal made with some fresh eggs. Having been introduced to bread again, he found he liked it when the slices of bread were soaked in the eggs, then grilled lightly over the fire. Wrap some meat in that, and it was delicious! He was trying his hand at cooking while Taini slept. It was as he was cooking, that he noticed the small vase had wilting flowers. He tried to keep it fresh often, because females liked flowers-- or something like that. He knew where the perfect buttercups would be blooming, and it wasn't too far off. Arlo had enough time to get the flowers and come back just in time to remove the bread. So he crept over to Taini, and with a finger, drew a heart in the dirt. It was his way of saying good morning and sharing his love. Adorned his savage animalskins, he went slinking from the cave.

The trip was short. Arlo moved swiftly through the trees and down over the thick brush of the woods. He was a well-seasoned scavenger, a man of the wilds. He crept on all fours, often crouching, staying deathly still to scent at the air before going on the move again. While he was more deadly than any normal wolf, there were worse predators in the forests at times. Finally, he jumped down before the meadow's edge and crept into the thick grasses, before moving to the short plains. Dozens of flowers grew there, and while Arlo didn't know their names, he knew their smells. He picked out the newly blooming buttercups and tried to get them by the roots as best as he could. They were carted off the way he had come.

Once home, Arlo put them in the clay vase and added a bit of water, setting the vase back in its place. And just as quick, he had their meal off the fire before it burned... too much. Arlo was no cook. Taini was. But he certainly did try.

The day went just the same, with Arlo fawning over Taini. He let her push him over, pin him, and he happily doted every ounce of his attention on her. He even bathed-- which was a real feat. Taini liked him clean though, so clean he was.

The meat stores had been running low. So as was usual, he would hunt. It wasn't that he didn't trust Taini to hunt. he did. But he couldn't stand the thought of her getting hurt. And she did so much for him, that hunting was his way to provide. He had two jobs, provide and protect. That evening as Taini got their meal cooking, he set out on the hunt. Arlo wore his usual skins and carried with him a simple dagger, though it was barely ever used. He also carted along a spear of simple wood, one scavenged as a splintered pole long ago. But it did the trick, long-since stained with the blood of many kills that had helped to sharpen and splinter the wood more.

Arlo took to the trees once again, as that was best to keep himself high to scent the ever-changing winds, and keep his advantage. His long, thick tail flicked as he wandered, creeping forward in a low crouch among the branches. His catling-blood helped him keep balanced and light on his feet. Arlo was made to hunt. He was also trained to kill, but chose to kill his prey rather than other sentient, intelligent beings. He liked life as a simple hunter, living with the mate of his dreams in a cave that fit all their needs. Arlo didn't even mind the scent of other wolven time to time being around, as very rare as that was. Very, very rare. Below him was an elder doe, who had strayed from her herd to wander for other grasses. He normally didn't go for the females, but when they were past their ability to breed and looked as old as she did, they became fair game. It was him, or another predator.

The wolfman slipped back, and moved in a wide circle to where he could pose up above, and allow her to come to him. As the doe wandered near, Arlo tossed a stick off to her right. The sound spooked her and she ran. Her path was straight for him. It made it all the easier for Arlo to leap down. He looped his arms about her neck, allowing himself to be dragged through the thick brush for a few feet as he adjusted his grip. In a swift move and with a bone-crunching snap, it was over. He broke her neck in a clean motion and the doe fumbled, him tumbling with it for her to land upon his lap, dead. With the lack of bleeding wounds, he didn't need to worry about her bleeding out and the meat growing tough, or infection settling in, nor bugs being so quickly attracted. Arlo hefted the doe over his shoulder and stood to his towering height. He turned to head back the way he had come, only for a sharp sting to be felt in his thigh. Arlo paused and looked down at the curious stick, surprised to see it was feathered. As he reached for it, his hand missed as the spine splint into two and danced, the world churning. He plucked it free finally, staring at the dart for a moment before he felt weightless and fell back, everything going black.

A splash of frigid cold waters woke him, a startled breath breaking his silence before he jerked to send grappling hands towards what woke him. Though, all he could do was jerk his shoulders, as his hands were bound, cuffed behind his back at the wrists by iron. A heavy matching collar was about his neck, linked upwards to a hook by a chain while his legs were spread by a bar, ankles cuffed and bolted to the floor. Try as Arlo might, he couldn't so much as move an inch. An unknown language was being spoken all around him, another splash of water rinsing away the dirt streaks on his form. Arlo snarled and bit at the air, snapping human jaws as it was all that he could do. A damp towel was slung over his face and held him at bay as rough brushes went scrubbing against his flesh and soapy herbed lavender scents filled the air. By the time the towel had been tugged free from him, soap was all he could scent and every inch of him had been thoroughly cleansed. The cuffs on the floor spreader were unlocked and his collar chain was tugged, bringing him staggering to his feet. A troll yanked Arlo towards a large room of iron bars where many nude, chiseled males of multiple races stood, some still damp from their cleaning. However, Arlo didn't put this together. He only saw red and when he was brought close enough into the room, he kicked off the floor and sunk his teeth into the shoulder of the nearest fellow. It took two trolls to unhinge his wriggling, thrashing form from the defenseless man who was shouting and wanted to take his own chunk of flesh in revenge and pent up rage. Arlo was finally knocked out...

End Part I
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