-sick like me [claim]

[⋆Ravɛn]

Text | Speech | Thought

His massive paws left deep indents in the soft snow as he walked. For days Decimus had traveled, relentless in his search, intent on claiming a home for himself. Now, finally, he’d arrived. Suden was exactly as he’d hoped for; dense, filled with bare limbed trees that would fill out gloriously in the spring. There would be bountiful prey to be sure, and the little stream that ran from the surrounding territories into Suden was more than enough to sustain life. He traveled alongside it for a while, trampling across the barren underbrush, his steely gaze missing nothing as he moved. On and on he went, searching, searching…and then finally he found what he was looking for. Off to the side of the widest part of the stream, tucked against and beneath the wide trunk of a tree, was a massive hole that tunneled beneath the earth. Snorting, Decimus ducked beneath the earth to inspect the makeshift den, ignoring the way his spine crawled with the realization that he did not belong underground. It would serve well enough, for the earth had formed to create a series of small, semi-circular shaped sections. Roots weaved around each other above him, and occasionally he would find a gnarled knot beneath his paws. The opening of the hole was a tad bit tight in the place where the roots circled around to the ground, but it would do.

Nodding to himself, Decimus bounded back above ground, sucking in fresh air as he gazed around him. Then, suddenly, he tossed his massive head back and released a long, low howl. It was an announcement of his claim…and a threat to anything or anyone that might still be lurking in Suden. When he’d finished, Decimus shook the fur from his pelt and started off around the borders, marking his scent as he went. It was his home now, he had decided; now all he needed was a little company.