He was trying to hunt.

Spring had come, and with it had arrived bizarre weather that Adalwolf could not explain or understand. The tundra had become practically inhospitable, plagued by constant blizzards. Even with his thick coat of fur, the man was unable to continue staying there. Food had become to scarce. He'd taken to wandering a little, and that had brought him here, to the desert.

A rocky gorge was a crack in the landscape. Normally this would be warm, and really it wasn't too hot just yet. He'd hoped to find something to eat here. Herds, or even some more solitary animals, seeking water at the bottom, where a creek ran through the base. Instead, he found vegetation that had been eaten down to the ground by swarming insects, leaving little for herds to graze on. The land was barren, dry, and there were bugs that were more than willing to try to take a bite out of him if he let them. The dirt seemed less stable than usual, with fewer roots to hold the ground together. He had to be careful with his footing.

Where had these bugs come from? He'd never seen anything like it. The only food he had found were carcasses that he had managed to scavenge. Adalwolf was resourceful, but that didn't mean he liked being a scavenger. He could hunt just fine. The problem was that the prey seemed to have taken flight to...somewhere else.

He'd have to keep searching, but now that he was at the bottom of the gorge he might as well stop for a rest and a drink at the creek. The water was low, but it still ran along the riverbed. He leaned down for a drink, closing his eyes as the cool water washed down his dry and dusty throat.

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+1 - Make a BWP-related post
+2 - Study one of the natural phenomena occurring
+2 - Assess the impacts of the weather on herds and prey
+2 - Analyze the changes being made to the land

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Astarte was searching for something to eat, anything to eat, her stomach rumbled and she growled back in annoyance, the female flicked her tail through the air, sharp and tense. Just like her body, paws carries her quietly over the earth, no prey, war would sure follow, no prey meant more lions searching for better hunting grounds, better homes to raise their children, lions looking to not starve. She shuddered at the thought, her paws arching as she walked down to the small creek that ran through the gorge, her eyes settled on a male who was already enjoying a drink,

Sorry, didn't mean to intrude..

Her voice was careful, calculating, she made way over slowly, bending to quench the thirst in her throat, relishing as the water crossed the dry, sandpaper that had become her throat.

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A voice interrupted him, causing him to lift his head and prick his ears forward, turning to look at the creature that approached him. His orange eyes fell on a maroon lioness, her fur fitting in well with the deep red of the rocks around them. His gaze became something more predatory, though the desire that had lit in him with Esmeree did not quite kindle in his chest this time. Still, he was never one to turn down an opportunity that walked right up to him.

Leaving the water behind, he turned to her, watching her every move as she approached the creek, stopping to take a drink herself. He studied each part of her body, eyes drawing lines from her head to her tail, taking in the spots on the saddle of her back and the stripes - so similar to those a cheetah might wear - dropping down from her eyes. Even if the burning desire was not there, he still felt the need to assert himself over her, entice her to him. To play with a new toy.

"Such a pretty zing in a such an inhospitable place," he crooned in his heavy german accent, his voice promising all sorts of things and possibly screaming danger if she paid enough attention. "Zis iss nein place for a eine schöne Frau." He took a step closer to her, his tail waving lazily behind him.

@Astarte

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Astarte tensed as she felt his eyes shift over her, she watched his predatory gaze, her tail slicing the air sharply, would he make a move, if so she wouldn't make it easy on him, that was for damn sure. He sure did trace every part of her body, nothing was left from his gaze, she stayed low, a small purr resonated from her chest.

Sunt prada ta? (Am I Prey to You?)

She could see the way he was looking at her, and though she did not understand what he said to her the second time he spoke, his eyes were giving away his intentions. But she was curious, what would he do? How would this go? She was a sucker for the macabre, and a male who knew what he wanted and wasn't afraid to take it.

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She was not Esmeree. Nor was she Aleksandra. The pink lioness had been more forward and sensual, lighting a flame in his chest that made him want her in a way he wasn't used to. It was all lust, but he didn't mind. Aleksandra was drawn to him, and they worked well together in their goals.

This girl was different. Less forward, perhaps confident but he could not tell. Adalwolf had been searching for power here, apart from his family, and he wasn't above having his way with someone simply to feel more powerful. She was just a girl, anyways, and he cared little for what she felt or desired. She was less. The only women he might ever think of as equals were his sisters.

So yes, his gaze was that of a predator seeking his next meal, but this time it wasn't the absent herd animals he was looking for.

He didn't understand what she said, but he was undeterred. His brawny form step forward, though he was still some feet away from her. His eyes drank her in, his gaze dangerous. Would she run? "Vhat do you vant mädchen?"

@Astarte

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She could now sense what was going on, she gave a small hiss, eyes flirting between him, an exit strategy, she was pressed against the creek, him, and a wall, she'd have to turn her back to him and try to jump to the ledge she'd so carelessly jumped from. So she faced him, what did she want? She understood that at least. Her claws gently flexed, she watched him carefully, a challenge rose in her eyes.

Power, security. What is it you want?'

She was quite aware of the situation she was in, her ears pinned against her skull, the lioness prepared for the males next move.

@Adalwolf

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Her reaction was the wrong one. At the end of the day, Adalwof was a predator. He relished in the chase and the fight before he finally reached his goal, whatever that might be. Her pinned ears and the hiss that she directed his way made him want to chase and to take what he believed he was owed. But things weren't too that point just yet. Instead, he continued his current approach; the predator with the honeyed voice and dangerous eyes.

"Zat depends," he drawled. "Zere are many things I vant, power among zem. Things zat vill be mine." He shuffled a rock around with a paw, his claws extended, as he watched her, judging and studying. He didn't push forward, instead holding his ground and biding his time.

"Are you afraid uff me?" he questioned her, curious. Did she want to run yet? Or was she intrigued by him?

@Astarte

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Her fight or flight was trying it's damnedest to kick in, her skin crawled and shuddered as he came closer, she side stepped, trying to move around him, would he allow it? She inhaled sharply, from fear, from excitement. She has no idea which one was the top, but she knew that her veins felt like ice, this was nothing like her interaction with Farrow, this was primal, yet it was her that was the prey.

No"

She lied, her voice a quiver, giving away the fib on her tongue, she didn't fear many, but not many made her feel so small, so dominated, so mortal. She stepped back with a shaky leg, head bent low, she would try and circle around, leap to safety. Or be drug down for him to do what he pleased.

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She tried to move around him, but Adalwolf reached out a clawed paw to try to snag her before she could, effectively blocking her path. She said she wasn't afraid, but her voice and her body language told him otherwise. His cold gaze grew more possessive and he stepped even closer, standing tall and large, a foreboding presence before the maroon woman.

"Nein? Your eyes tell me different, mädchen." She took a step backwards, and he wasn't sure what she was going to try. Would she try to pass him again? Or did she have something else in mind? Whatever the case, he had already decided what he wanted.

"Vhy don't you schtay mitt me? I kan gife you power, schöne Frau." It wasn't a suggestion.

@Astarte

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Astarte felt his paw snag her before she could make it around him, she let out a small yelp, her head tilted to look up at him, it wasn't going to do any good if she didn't atleast try. She tried to shoulder against him, mentally begging the larger male to just move. He was watching her, but she was focused on escaping, she tried again to move around him.

I would rather not, let me go.

The crimson lioness growled in frustration, struggling to move around the male, her breaths were shaky. This is what Nero had warned her about, but she wasn't a coward, she wouldn't just lie down for the male. If he wanted it, he'd have to make her bend and bow. She glared up at @Adalwolf and within a few short seconds, she spat up at his face

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