His explorations of the lands surrounding Celestial had slowly expanded until he was spending as much of his time studying the prey around the pack as within. In a moment of honest self-reflection he'd realized that his skills were growing stagnant in the constant repetition of routine in Celestial's lands. Hunt hare, hunt partridge, hunt prairie chicken, repeat ad infinitum. Take the occasional mule deer fawn, or a squeaker or juvenile swine if he were lucky. No teamwork, no challenge. If you weren't a legionary or a healer or some combination thereof, there was nothing for you here.

He'd been up at the redwater rocks when the scent of blood had drawn him cautiously into tracking the source. From the old/new blood scents mixing on the track the animal - a desert mountain sheep, one of the ones they called "bighorn" - had been bleeding for quite some time. He'd trailed the sheep down from the rocks to the oasis nearby, where he observed a ram resting, head down, next to the water. It was a fine, sturdy young ram, but it had clearly come off the loser in a clash with another ram. One horn had snapped off at the base, dangling beside his face in what looked like a terribly painful position. Blood continuously dripped from the break and painted the sand around the sheep, a bright beacon to other hungry predators.

Mask withdrew quietly, not wanting to disturb the ram into making a run back to the rocks. With the amount of pain it was in and the bloodloss, even the ram's sturdy size shouldn't give a group of hunters too much trouble. If he could gather some of the pack before the coyotes got the same idea...

Once out of sight and hearing of the ram, he broke into a fast lope that carried him swiftly to the distance border of the plains, before throwing up his elegant head in an urgent call for the able-bodied pack members who still remained. He then waited quite impatiently, though outwardly he appeared calm and poised. He'd had to waste quite a lot of the day going through the wash, and they still needed to go back all that way before finding the ram again, assuming nothing had happened in the time he'd been gone. He could only hope that the pack gathered swiftly enough that they could make it.

OOC: they're starting at the northern border of Vericona Plains but the hunt itself will take place at the oasis. Be careful, there may be other predators around...

Justice was on patrol near the northern border when she heard the urgent call from Mask, the pack's hunter, so when she responded immediately she found she was the first one there. She slowed to a trot as she approached, eyeing the slimmer male curiously. There didn't seem to be any intruders, nor was the male injured or in distress in any way, so what was so urgent about getting there? Well, he was a hunter, so it seemed reasonable that it was related in some way to that. She wasn't a hunter, but if he needed help she should be able to do well enough. "What's up?" she asked casually.

That Sea is just a Gambler at Heart

Dómari was taking a late afternoon nap after he'd finished his patrol. There hadn't been much to report. Everything seemed to be running smoothly and he hadn't chanced upon any strange scents or seen any suspicious behavior. His mind was mostly at peace but only because he insisted on it being so. Below the surface was a massive amount of information to think over. His encounter with Razi being of particular note. He wasn't quite sure how to feel about that and he really wanted to talk to someone about it but he wasn't sure who. This was something for Sindre and he didn't know where she'd be hanging out.

Aw heck! He said he wasn't going to think about that and here he was thinking about it! Dómari pouted. An urgent howl rang out and Dómari flew to his feet, racing toward the call partly out of instinct and partly for the relief of being able to get out of his head. Though he hoped it wasn't anything to bad. His eyes narrowed and he steeled himself as he raced to the border to see Justice and Mask calmly standing there. He slowed to a stop next to Justice as his head tilted to the side. "Hello Mask, has something happened?" He didn't see any signs of distress or outward reasons to hurry.

Gwenevere raised her head from the scent she was investigating, sharp ears catching Mask's urgent call for the pack at the northern border. She was at the junction of their two territories, a fair ways from the call, but she was quick to follow the call to its origin in spite of that. Surprisingly she was among the first to arrive, only Justice and Domari arriving before her. Her brow knitted; it was concerning that an serious call from one of their own wolves was answered by so few. It was clearly not a raid - there were no enemy wolves there and no scent of enemies - but they could not know that. All the pack's wolves should have been answering such an urgent summons. Not even Regulus had yet to appear. "Mask, Justice, Domari," she greeted each with a nod, hiding her concerns behind a calm smile. "What is the emergency?"

Aurielle Adravendi

She had a great deal to think over after her meeting with Gwenevere and her father. Things were removing faster than she’d expected but… She’d just have to take them in stride. She’d been patrolling when Mask’s voice called for the pack, urging them to hurry. She paused before she turned and stretched out in a swift lope, analyzing the tone in that call. There hadn’t been the anger or warning that would suggest an intruder, or danger. And she figured that if there were such, he'd have been quite clear about it. Considering it was Mask, their sole active hunter, her own logic led her to decide that he must be calling a hunt. Her first pack hunt! She was fourth to arrive, almost at the same time as Gwenevere – though too late to catch her query, pulling in half a beat after she’d finished speaking – and she gave her, Justice, and Domari a quick smile before her gradated sapphire and sky gaze turned to Mask as she asked, “What are we hunting?” Walk ---- "Speak" ---- "Hear" ---- Think

After patrolling for another time today he decided to wander, to look for something that could be useful to the pack and take up his spare time. He really wanted to spar, but it seems no one was around to accompany him to the battlefield. It was said that they should always have a witness and he currently didn’t have any so he set out to look for something else to do. Greenish eyes scanned the world before him as his lanky legs carried him quickly over the earth. He still had his limp, but he was used to compensating for that weaker part of his body. He headed to the lake, which at one time was part of the pack territory. It was a nice spot to rummage around for something to do and he could even try to fish if he felt lucky enough. Before he could get vary far Mask's call rang out in the distance making him stop and listen. He was calling a hunt together which honestly would be more fun then what his current plans would be. Grinning he turned around and took off in a steady run hoping to get there as soon as he could, and before they got things started. As he came closer the figures of the others became visible and it seemed there was a decent sized party already gathered. Slowing down he approached the group and waited patiently for the orders. "Talk" "You" Think

Several of his pack mates were quick to respond to his call - the two young paladins, the warrior named Gwenevere, Laisren, and the alpha's daughter. He waited a moment, eyes studying the plains on the other side of the wall, but he couldn't see any signs of more pack members approaching. Well, perhaps that was for the best. He didn't want to put the pack at risk by taking any more of their members outside of pack lands, not with the reduced number they already had.

He turned his attention to those already gathered, and set himself to answer their questions quickly so he could get them on their way. "There is an injured bighorn in the oasis. Easy prey, perhaps, enough red meat for whole pack if we can get it. But we must beat other predators to it first. Come, hurry, we must return before someone else finds the trail, or he returns to the cliffs."

Turning with a summoning flick of his tail, he took off back along his trail with that mile-eating lope wolves are so good at. "He is young ram, broke off a horn and is bleeding out," he explained as they raced along. "Should be well weakened and easy prey, but outside of Celestial's territory I do not want to risk only myself, or even two of us, being hunting it alone. We will need lookouts posted for dangers to the hunters while they have their attention occupied. That will be you, Aurielle, and you, Gwenevere, and Domari." Aurielle as the youngest and, frankly, as the alpha's daughter he would prefer to keep back out of safety - a ram was still dangerous even when weakened, and he didn't want to be the cause of Regulus' heir being injured outside of pack lands - and Gwenevere as an experienced fighter to add experience to the younger wolves' strength. She might catch signs Aurielle in her inexperience might miss, and Domari was a good balance between the two.

"Justice, Laisren, and I will run the sheep like a hare, yes? Two to the outsides of his path to keep him turned away from his cliffs, and the third behind him pushing him hard until he stands at bay. Laisren and I will switch out as the runner if we grow tired. Then when we have him stopped, then two to keep his attention frontward while the third harries him behind until he falls. Justice is least experienced in hunting. I will keep her with me at his horns while you, Laisren, take him down if you can."

Justice was no hunter, but he knew how hot-headed the young paladin could be. It would be better to let work her physically rather than letting her sit and stew in boredom while watching. A bored sentry was a distracted sentry, so he would prefer the more patient Domari in that position while Justice ran off some of her energy. "Questions?" The sheep's blood-scent was hot in his nose now despite the distance yet to go, so he knew the ram was still there and most likely still alive. No sign of predators from this direction yet, so they could likely still have a chance to beat them to the meal.

OOC: no need to wait for posting order. I want to get this done as quickly as possible - the non-hunters can skip the hunt rounds if they want, just let me know so I don't wait on your post

ooc: Once the hunt begins, it can certainly be assumed that Aurielle's on guard at her assigned spot. :P Go ahead and skip me through the actual hunt.

Aurielle Adravendi

Aurielle listened avidly as Mask explained the situation. This was interesting. A hunt beyond pack walls, for a creature she hadn’t yet encountered. She nodded keenly as she followed the male. She wasn’t miffed about being left out of the actual hunt. Part of her role as Future and later the leader of the pack was going to be protecting them from harm. So, guarding against predators was perfectly fine with her. At Mask’s query of any questions, Aurielle asked quietly, well aware that the scent of the ram was extremely fresh and not wishing to startle it away and run the risk of fouling the hunt, “Where would be the best places for the sentries once we get into position? Did you see any good vantage points?” No doubt he had, but she wanted to know, too. Every little bit of learning was welcome. Walk ---- "Speak" ---- "Hear" ---- Think

ooc: you can skip me for most of the hunting portion. I may post with Dómari if I get some inspiration but otherwise carry on mighty hunters!

That Sea is just a Gambler at Heart

Dómari was relieved it wasn't any sort of emergency but rather an opportunity. He was more of a scavenger than a hunter having spent much of his life living on his own and wasn't sure he was suited for this task but weakened prey would be easier.

He swiftly followed the other mail toward the oasis as he discussed hunting plans. Dómari felt relief at being assigned to be a lookout. That was more his speed and the blood and sounds of distress were bound to attract other predators. With autumn winding down and winter closing in there was always chance a wandering bear would see the ram as an easy means to fill his belly for hibernation.

He listened to Aurielle's question with interest but he'd already spied is spot. "Mask, I'll take the lookout position on the southern most rocks at the mouth of the oasis. I should be able to get a good vantage of anything coming in." With a nod of his head he moved to get into position. They didn't have time to waste. Climbing confidently up the rocks he settled into position on a worn boulder, eyes peeled for any other scavengers entering in through the mouth of the oasis.

Things were rushed, Mask summoning them to hurry and fallow him. Laisren was quick to fallow his ears taking in what Mask was saying. This was something they need to finish quickly and for others to be watching out for predators. He got focused fallowing mask and listening closely to his instructions. He was glad for the wolves that would be posted as sentries, this will hopefully allow them to hunt without trouble. He would be part of the hunt which made him grin in excitement. In fact he would be the one taking down the injured creature which made him even more ready to get this show on the road. He nodded in agreement with the plans having no objections with the plan Mask quickly had come up with. The smell of the ram's blood was getting stronger by the second and he was so ready to run this thing ragged and take it down. Mask did ask for questions, but Lais had none and listened as his niece stated a rather good question. "Talk" "You" Think

Justice grinned in anticipation as Mask laid the situation out before them. The trip back to the oasis was a comparatively long one for a pack hunt, but with such a reward waiting for them at the end of the journey it was an undertaking that she could look forward to with relish. Her assignment was better than she'd expected for being one of the younger and less experienced members of the group, but she could suppose that Mask was sparing the elder Gwenevere from too much physical exertion, and Aurielle was much younger. Justice sent Domari a sympathetic glance, but he didn't seem to mind much being assigned to guard duty. Though with the amount of fresh blood she could already scent, maybe his job wouldn't end up being so boring after all. Probably every predator for miles was already honing in on the location.

Her grin just grew bigger. "Come on, let's go already," she urged, bouncing impatiently in the wake of the older wolves. "Someone else is going to get to it while you guys stand around talking."