An apt fisher, Pitch often made them her daily meals. Today, she was yearning for the taste of something different. Something rich and red. The problem was that the woman wasn't exactly the largest or strongest of wolves. To make up for her lack in brute strength, Pitch had to be clever. And so, she began searching for a suitable place to dig a hole. Not a massive hole, but a hole large enough to trip up a creature with long legs, allowing her to catch and kill it.

The shadowy fae located the perfect spot at the end of a natural chute in the land. With a grassy hill on either side, it would be the natural escape route for a fleeing herbivore. Pitch chose a spot just beyond a faint bend in the trail, then began using her obsidian claws to mark out the edges of what would eventually be a pit.

"Pitch"
OOC-3 rounds of crafting a pit and 3 rounds of hunting.

The call of adventure had pulled Fern away from the castle and across the land bridge. Pale paws find themselves in the gulley where the coydogs had once pitched their tents for the festival. Eyes see all types of prey, the plethora of animals on the nearby land has the gray girl considering a hunt. The wedding reception is fast approaching and the Hallowss needs all the meat they can get. But she will need help… Tilting her head up to scent the air, Fern finds the smell of another wolf lingering on the breeze. Pausing a moment, she considers her options, but the hope of a good hunt has the girl adjusting her course toward the unknown wolf. It is a gamble but she hopes that they will be friendly.

Rounding a turn in a natural chute that the land makes, a pelt as dark as a starless sky greets her eyes and Fern pulls to a halt. Ocean-hued eyes look to the ground where the dark wolf seems to be working and finds claw marks marking off a circular area. Lifting her eyebrows, the gray girl says, “Looking for some help?” as she tilting her head to marked out area, Fern waits for approval before moving to help start digging up the land.

"Fern Lark"

Dark ears perked at the sound of approaching paws and Pitch adjusted her position so she could watch the grey woman approach. As the fae spoke, the obsidian lady gave a nod. "Please," she spoke simply, gesturing towards the circle that she'd lined out. "I planned on digging the pit and then running a herd of deer towards it." Melodic, Arabic tones explained the plan. She motioned behind the grey fae with a point of her dark nose. "There was a nice sized herd bedding down back that way."

Dainty paws continued pulling away piles of dirt. They would have to cover the excess dirt with some greenery as it would be too noticeable against the bright grass and flowers of the gulley. Again and again claws and paws raked at the ground, taking the pair of ladies deeper and deeper into the earth.

"Pitch"

Soft blue eyes watch the dark wolf as Fern awaits her answer, stepping forward only when the lady clad in obsidian and marked with gold acknowledges her. Pale paws pull the shorter wolf to the edge of the ring closest to her and she looks to the claw marks that line where the border of pit is. Positioning herself to face the center, Fern pushes her claws into the soft dirt and pull back as she starts to dig at the earth. The unknown wolf’s voice is melodic and the exotic accent that colors each word has the gray girl realizes how clunky and airy her own voice is. She offers the woman a smile and a dip of her head in understanding before turning her ocean-hued eyes back to the task. Paws dig at the ground and they work together, the rhythm and speed lulling Fern into a comfortable silence as the ladies till the earth.

As they get deeper, the gray girl looks at the piles of dirt that are accumulating on both sides and says, “Do you think we can use these to our advantage? Maybe pile them in such a way that the deer will want to funnel in on this side?” Bright eyes turn to the woman as she pauses a moment to catch her breath, mind working to try and think of ways to aid in this endeavor. A fly buzzes the girl’s face and she absently mindedly swipes a paw at it before she returns to the pit that they are digging.


"Fern Lark"

The pair of women dug together, pushing dirt out of the pit on either side. Soon it was deep enough for what they needed. Dark ears turned, catching the grey fae's voice. The question brought a contemplative hum from Pitch as she looked towards the trails of dark earth. "I suppose if we covered with with branches and plants to hide how dark they are against the light of the grass." A nod was given before Pitch leaped out of the hole.

The gilded fae began collecting branches and shrubbery, covering the trails of dirt and creating a natural chute in the land. It would help keep the deer in line just as the other woman had suggested. Pitch cast her fishing net over the top of the pit and scattered leaves and grass on top. It would keep the deer from seeing the dark earth and avoiding the trap. Pitch turned to the other woman, ears shifting forward. "Are you ready?"

"Pitch"

The obsidian wolf hums as she contemplates Fern’s suggestion and comes up with a plan. A smile rests on the gray girl’s lips as she leaps nimbly out of the pit and helps to gather branches and leaves to cover the piles. She digs up a few nearby plants to replant on the mounds, careful to cover the plants tracks by placing small patches of grass where they had once been. They work to make it look it like the small mounds have always been part of the landscape. Stepping back and eyeing their work, Fern nods her approval before turning to watch as the dark wolf covers the pit with a net made for fishing. Fern quickly hurries to help cover the trap tossing more grass and branches over the net until the ground looks like it was never disturbed.

Once everything is in place, the obsidian woman inquires if the girl is ready and Fern gives her a firm nod and soft smile as she says, “I will follow your lead.” With that she waits for the dark wolf to lead her toward the herd of deer.


"Fern Lark"

Pitch led the way at a leisurely lope so that they could conserve their energy. She knew where the deer had been, but they most likely moved since then. The dark fae was careful to be quiet as she moved, her long legs and dainty paws not making much noise as she traversed the grassy terrain. On the wind, she caught the scent of deer and altered her course, slowing so that they could move even more quietly.

Peering through the greenery, Pitch motioned her hunting companion forward. Three deer stood grazing on the sweet grass. "I'll move behind them and you stay here. Then we can run them into the pit," she whispered. "I don't need much meat, so we should only need one deer." With a nod, Pitch peeled away and made her way through the foliage until she was positioned behind the deer. Peering out through the bushes, Pitch caught the other woman's gaze and gave a nod. She then launched herself from her hiding place and they were off.

"Pitch"

The woman clad in darkness leads the way. They lope along, soft paws making almost no sounds as the women make their way toward where the deer are. As they move, Fern keeps testing the air, looking for the smell of the prey they want on the breeze. The obsidian wolf finds the scent first and the course is altered, Fern slowing when the other wolf’s pace does the same. They move through the greenly, as silent as death’s shadow. The gray girl stays slightly behind her hunting companion only coming up beside the woman when she is motioned to do so.

Ears turn forward, capturing the whispered words the dark wolf says, nodding in agreement to the plan and the taking of only one deer. Before the wolf can move away, Fern’s soft voice says, “Be careful.” It has become almost a superstition of the gray girl’s, the need to remind others to remain cautious helping to relieve some of Fern’s own anxiety. A nod is given and the wolf made of darkness and gilded stripes moves away, her passage not even rustling the foliage. The gray wolf hunkers down and peers to the area that had been pointed out, waiting in tense silence for the citrine and pumpkin gaze of her companion to appear.

Soon enough, she is there and ocean eyes meet the woman’s fiery gaze both sharing a nod. They move in sync, bursting onto the scene to startle the three deer. Fern works to get one separated and keep their target from retreating the wrong way while allowing her companion to get the course of the deer set.


"Fern Lark"

Long legs pumped, carrying Pitch quickly across the grassy landscape. The deer ran as they were expected to and the pair of ladies were hot on their tails. One tried to veer off and Pitch snapped at its heels, forcing the deer back into the group. The one that had tried to separate itself was the one that the dark woman wanted. The smaller deer managed to shed from the group and Pitch made no move from her side to keep them. Here and there she spared a glance to the grey woman, but most of her attention had to be focused on her prey.

The lot of them rounded a curve, rushing straight down the pathway towards the pitfall. The deer straight on and Pitch was on the heels of her deer, pushing it hard. The buck leaped, hooves landing on the covered pit. It crashed through with an unnatural groan, slamming into the edge of the pit with full force and snapping its neck. A second deer slid into the pit as well, though its momentum wasn't as great. It struggled and flailed within the pit. They would need to kill it.

"Pitch"

Fern works to match the dark wolf’s speed, the pair falling into an easy rhythm with the three deer caught between them. The smallest of the group tries to break away and leave its friends to their fate but the gray girl rushes ahead to cut off its route before falling back to keep them all trapped. The pack can use whatever meat is left over so nothing will go to waste. This is the part of hunting Fern loves most; the feel of the adrenaline coursing hotly through her veins; the thundering of hooves and heart; the excitement at the kill to come.

The group round the curve and Fern tightens her side, making sure to drive them straight toward the pit. In the end, the buck is the first to hit the trap and breaks his neck on the fall down. The second deer of the group slides down into the pit, struggling and flailing on the bottom. And finally, the third one, the one that almost got away tries to leap over the pit after watching its two companions fall. However, its leap is mistimed and it joins the others, the loud snap of bone resounding through the air as it smacks its back against the bottom. It screams in pain and fear, unable to move as pale paws move Fern to the edge of the pit.


"Fern Lark"

With two deer in the pit, Pitch wasted no time in diving into the hole to wrap her teeth about the neck of the squealing, squirming deer. The woman bit hard into its throat until blood filled her maw. With help from the grey woman, they eventually had the deer subdued. Two fat deer lay at the bottom of their pit. How they were going to get them out was another story. Maybe piece by piece.

Pitch leaped out of the pit, her long, lean frame making the feat look rather easy. The dark woman sat on the edge, tongue lolling out as she caught her breath. "Well done," she complimented. "Is your pack close enough that they'll be able to help you take this meat back before it gets spoiled?" She gave her head a little tilt. Her stomach was already prepared to be filled. She needed only a haunch for herself.

"Pitch"

Fern follows wolf made of darkness into the pit and moves to the other struggling deer. Teeth sink into the soft flesh of the deer’s throat, and she quickly ends the creature’s life. The dark wolf leaps easily out of the pit while Fern stays at the bottom to do some assessments. The woman compliments her and the girl’s gray head swivels to look at the woman, a smile on her lips. The gray wolf says, “Thanks. You are a great hunter.” Then the woman asks if her pack is nearby and Fern dips her head in acknowledgement as she says, “We are just across the land bridge to the south, in a big castle. Have you been to Auster?”

She listens while inspecting the deer and, when she is done, Fern nimbly leaps out like the dark wolf had. Moving towards the woman, she says, “I can go get some of our bigger wolves to help bring back what you don’t want. My name is Fern, by the way. If you have time, you should come and visit the pack. We are called ‘The Hallows’ and could use an amazing hunter like yourself.” A wide smile appears as she looks over the dark wolf before adding, “Or you can just come and visit. I will be sure to keep some food ready for you.” The wolf is a great hunter and she deserves a hot meal whenever she wants.  


"Fern Lark"