There was blood in the water. Fresh and thick, staining the once calm waters of the Bay a vivid red. It was usually so calm here, the waters gentle and serene but it couldn't be further from that on this day. Hattori stood by the shore, pulled in by the scent of blood on the wind and watched with furrowed brows at the dark shape in the water. A shark, a big one too. A bull shark, if he had to guess from its stocky build. It thrashed about in the shallow waters, feeding on its freshly made kill, further causing Tojo's fish stock to flee in terror to deeper waters.

How it had managed to slip past the nets Tojo had made to ensnare the Bay was a problem in and of itself, but one that would have to be dealt with later. Hattori did not like swimming at the best of times and the thought of getting into the water with one of the ocean's top apex predators wasn't something he was thrilled about, but it needed to be done. It needed to die.

Tipping his head back he called for the wolves on Tojo. It was time to fight, to reclaim the Bay as their own.

Áskell trotted along the border, tail waving lightly as he went. It had been several weeks since he'd fallen ill from a resurgence of the ooze. It had stolen much of his memory unrelated to his skills. His companion Ari had tried to fill him in so he had some sense of who he was but despite his efforts he simply couldn't remember the places and wolves he supposedly knew. Not even his family. In some ways he supposed this was a blessing. Apparently his father and brother were dead. A fact that should've saddened him emmensely but without the memory of these wolves and the emotional connection it simply became another random fact to stash away.

Having been so ill he could content himself with the experience of simply being alive. His energy was up and his breathing nearly entirely back to normal. Áskell could go on a full patrol now without need of constant breaks. All in all he couldn't help but feel good.

His good mood suddenly came to a screeching halt as the alpha called wolves to fight. Uh oh… He quickly deviated from his patrol and arrived at the bay to see a spreading smear of blood in the water and a large shark. He swiftly pulled up next to the horned man. "Kaicho. I'm ready for orders."

The nights since he and Usagi confessed themselves to each other had been the best nights he'd ever had, far surpassing any dream or anything he could have imagined. He slept better than he ever had and despite his prior fears, was starting to fit into the clan and find his place. Despite how well he'd been sleeping at night, he stole every moment he could to spend with Usagi and today was no different. Their schedules aligned perfectly for a midday nap between duties and they were quick to take the much needed rest break. Kunai had been drawn awake early to the man sprawled across him and smiled, heaving the smaller man up and closer to him to cuddle and enjoy the rest of the break, which unfortunately would have to end soon. He wasn't expecting it to be half of a second later when the Kaicho's call sounded off from the Bay, calling them to fight a predator.

Nuzzling Usagi's cheek, uncertain whether or not the call would've woken him from his slumber, Kunai drew the smaller man awake and smiled. "Time to wake up, Kaicho's calling," he spoke softly and kissed the mans cheek. He would then roll from his back onto his side and then to his stomach, encouraging him to wake up faster and get up, though he wouldn't stand until the smaller man was good and awake, giving him plenty of time to get off first.

Shaking the last bit of sleep from his split coat, he eagerly left the den and made his way down to the bay with Usagi at his side. He stole a kiss from the man before they were within sight of the Kaicho and the other man that had arrived, someone Kunai hadn't familiarized himself with yet. Trotting up to the pair, Kunai dipped his head in greeting towards the Kaicho before looking out to the bay, seeing the large mass moving in the shallow water stained with blood. He'd tangled with a shark or two in his time, but that was back when he had weapons and armor. He'd lost everything he had when he washed ashore but he'd do his best to prevent it from stopping him or even slowing him down.

"Is there a plan in mind yet?" He asked, mismatched eyes drawing back from the shark to glancing between the two other men.

"Kunai Speech." & "Usagi Speech."

Usagi had been having the time of his life with Kunai - since they had managed to clear up what was so painfully obvious. They loved each other. Plain and simple. Ot was what kept them together, in the same den, and the hohei felt more relieved upon seeing his partner’s comfort level increase. Each day got a little better, they got a little closer, and their relationship was blooming. Usagi made sure he spent time with his brother as well - so he wouldn’t feel as if Usagi had forgotten him - and the balance was settling out. He;d never been..in love before, really, so the adjustment of having even more personal and social responsibilities was something he had to get used to. And did it bother him? Not in the least, he discovered. He loved Kunai enough to reach out of the comfort zone he’d held for so long, keeping everyone at arm’s length except for a select few. He, too, was becoming more open.

His midday nap was interrupted when Kunai nudged him awake, just in time to hear their Kaicho’s summons. All the way in the Bay, apparently. He inhaled, a drowsy snort leaving his nostrils as he stood up, stretched, and followed the chimera to the waters. He felt Kunai kiss him suddenly, and he felt the flush in his cheeks. It wasn’t embarrassment, no. He was quite shy about public affection, he found. His nub tail gave the softest wag from the kiss, and he called for his Akita to bring his double-bladed sword. As the brindle dog trotted off, Usagi set his sights on the wallowing bull shark, a massive creature, tearing apart enough fish to stain the waters red. He winced internally at the sight of the nets loosened up from the animal’s arrival. Kuroo had worked hard to make sure only fish could enter those nets, not sharks. He stayed silent, offering Hattori a polite dip of his head and acknowledging Askell with a polite nod as well.

"Kunai Speech." & "Usagi Speech."

Hattori did not have to wait long for his pack mates to heed his call. He did not expect everyone to come rushing over, there was always plenty to do within the shade of the bamboo, but he needed muscle and muscle arrived. Glancing between the koi wolves-some of stronger blood than others- he considered the best course of action. To fight a shark blindly in the water would be foolish, outright handing the advantage over to the beast and running the risk of injury. They would have to be smart, work together to see this through and Hattori was confident enough it could be done, together.

"Bring in the netting." He ordered, speaking in the common tongue, as to not leave Askell out. "We must force it to shallow waters, beach it if possible. Askell with me. Kunai, Usagi take the other side."

Making haste, Hattori skirted along the edge of the Bay and clambered up onto the makeshift floating bamboo bridges that had been installed to hold together the barrier nets. These nets in particular were made with thick and strong rope, intertwined with supporting vines to reinforce them further. Whether they'd be strong enough to hold a bull shark was yet to be seen, but they had to try.

Grabbing a hold with his teeth, Hattori checked over his shoulder to ensure there was enough room and length for Askell to do the same. They'd have to use all their strength to drag it in, a game of tug of war they had to win.

"Now!"He called between gritted teeth, stepping to the side awkwardly as he made his way into the swallow edges of the Bay, water sloshing all around as he dragged the net in, encompassing the shark with the help of the others.

Áskell listened as Hattori gave them orders. He nodded and swiftly followed after his alpha, leaping easily onto the bamboo bridges and heading to the other side of the net. Ari followed swiftly after him, leaping up onto his shoulders. Áskell reached out to snag the other corner of the net in his teeth while the macaque leaned over to help unsecure it so the wolves could move it. With the net held tight in his teeth Áskell waited for further orders, trusting Ari to assist if needed.

When he heard his alpha's call, Áskell shifted, limbs surging as he tried to mirror the movement of the others in such a way that the net would surround the shark. He was less worried about the strength of the rope and more about the strength of their teeth. Best to tie off the net onto something more secure. A giant log of thrashing muscle could easily outdo them. Ari seemed to be on the same page and swiftly grabbed the net, head looking for any place more secure to tie it to.