Mercy [Aryn]

Cai padded slowly after the elk herd, watching for anything that stood out as a likely target. He found none that caught his attention, and so shifted his attention away, ranging through the flat Dancefloor until he spotted a herd of pronghorn. Staying downwind, he tested the scents, nose lifted high to catch the best spores, searching for anything off—any sign of sickness or old age.

Eventually, he caught a whiff of something he approved of, and pressed forward, gently pressuring the milling animals into a little more speed, watching for the animal that had caught his nose, waiting for it to give itself away. Eventually, the herd left her behind.

He studied the animal thoughtfully, taking in the thin appearance, the ribs standing out in her sides, and the unsightly, painfully massive bulge on the side of her neck. It was a tumor, and his nose confirmed it was cancerous. She was wasting away, and though younger than some of the older does, she wasn’t long for the world. A few months more, maybe, all the way to winter if she was uncommonly lucky, but winter would be her death. The tumor was just the outward clue. Her body was likely riddled with tumors that were inhibiting her ability to process forage and glean nutrition from it.

He fell back, circling around her to push her away from the herd, eyes scanning the flat expanse of plains around them as he considered his options. She’d still be a chase for him, and it would be easier with a hunting partner. Chrystal, higher up in the sky, clicked her beak and gave a soft screech, alerting him to another wolf. Hey, good luck was favoring him today.

Walk ---- "Speak" ---- "Hear" ---- Think