The best time to hunt was either early morning or late at night. When the world was just going to sleep or not quite awake was when the prey would peek out, hoping for safety. Maelstrom was learning these things quickly. As he hunted (practiced it more like) he found that most animals despised revealing themselves when the sun was highest in the sky. This was okay by him. He enjoyed afternoon naps while his siblings were out of the den doing what it was that they were doing.

Today was no different. Just as the first birds began to stir, their wings rustling in the nearby brush, Maelstrom's eyes were opening. The surrounding peaks of Fenrir's Maw hid the rising sun, leaving the valley cast in cold darkness. For spring, it was still frigid cold with the highest places still covered in a fine blanket of powdered snow. He shakes off the sleep and slinks silently from the den without a stir from his family. His bright violet rimmed eyes scan the terrain as he follows a thin game trail toward the crisp ocean inlet below.

Sticking to the shadows, he soon picks up the scent of a deer herd. Maybe today would be the day he gets lucky and has a chance to take down a fawn. Lately, he had been noticing smaller hoof prints where the herd grazed in the grassy areas near the water. If spring meant birth then that also meant the potential for an easier meal. Eager to try out his stealthy abilities, the young pup continues to slink through the shadows. Taking painfully precise steps so that not a sound is made, he takes his time getting closer.

"Maelstrom"

word count: 285 / 1500

Ysmir threw himself into his duties for the pack, sometimes that was the on;y place he really felt he belonged. With Krah and Barenziah at his side her never truly felt lonely. He was only just beginning to get to know his relatives, and the majority of those he met were nothing like he had expected. This was the land of expect the unexpected however, and he kept an open mind. As he usually did, he was a silent observer to the world. That and being a hunter. He settled into the role naturally and had been spending the majority of his time providing for the pack as such.

He was on the hunt again when he encountered the young boy he had hunted the dall sheep with. The morning was early, much earlier than most wolves of the pack were out. Certainly an opportune time to seek out their prey. Ysmir’s form slipped easily through the still mostly bare underbrush. The tiny twigs and branches holding onto the light snow from the night before. The weather further assisting in their quarry. The hoof prints left behind would be much easier to follow.

As the young Syndicate wolf was thinking, now was the perfect opportunity to take the young fawns from the herd. They were defenseless and small, a good choice for a young wolf like Mael. Ysmir too kept to the shadows as he slunk forward, appearing beside Maelstrom’s side as he just caught the trail of the herd of deer.

Ysmir made no sound, but once the other’s eyes had found him he gave a swift nod. There was no need for words between them as they both stalked forward.

wc: 283
total: 568

One paw forward and then the other. His belly practically brushing the ground as he crawled forward. Persistent and determined to catch his own fawn, he is nearly startled by the approach of something else. Fur bristles for a moment, ears folding backward until he looks to his side where he sees Ysmir sliding up beside him. Meeting the older wolf's gaze, Maelstrom nods in approval and agreement. There would be no need for words, they could hunt together in silence. The pup was glad mostly because he still had no idea how to lead a hunt and from the Dall sheep hunt, he had some kind of understanding that Ysmir didn't talk anyway. What a predicament that would be...

Refocusing his attention back on the game trail ahead of them, he sees how close they've prowled so far. Just on the other side of the berry bushes, the herd of deer lazily graze unaware of the two predators. Their tails swing back and forth, mouths chewing and ripping at the grass, eyes half closed with only a few deer on full alert at all times. If the wind were to shift even slightly their position would be revealed.

Pausing behind the bushes, Maelstrom takes another moment to study the positioning of the herd. Some of the fawns were playing and being rambunctious, playing a few feet from their mothers. Those ones would be the easiest to pick off. He meets Ysmir's gaze once more, nodding his nose toward the two fawns that leaped and pranced about.

Following along behind the bushes for a few more feet, making a wide berth around the herd, but closer to the fawns, Maelstrom would take his time. The slower the better he had been taught so far. If he conserved his energy and waited for the perfect moment, the hunt would be easy. Right? His mind was on these tips when he comes to face the fawns from the back, hidden in the shadows of the berry bushes. His muscles tense, ready to pounce when his fear of a shifting wind comes true. Rolling in off the ocean inlet, the cold breeze carries their scent to the deer and in a moment's notice, one of the older does is bleating out a loud alarm.

"Shoot. We gotta chase them, fast!" Maelstrom's voice reached a higher pitch that he would be embarrassed about later. Rushing from their hiding spot as the deer race out of the meadow, Maelstrom takes off after them, trying his best to keep up with at least the fawns or slower older does.

"Maelstrom"

wc: 433
total: 1001 / 1500

The Finnvi was getting himself into position, crouched down, his large paws making no sound. Ysmir was well adjusted to being silent, in voice as much as physically. He disturbed no leaf, and was gentle in the crunching snow. He weighed far too much to walk along the tops of the hardened crust, but he had learned to break through with little to no sound. So much so that he startled the young Maelstrom he was focusing on his prey so hard. Perhaps that would be a little lesson to him, to pay attention to his whole surroundings and not just the subject of his hunt. Good thing he hadn’t been a bear.

The boy seemed to know well enough what Ysmir desired without having to say a word, as he had assumed. The pair of them had quickly made headway towards the herd of deer. Spring time meant that it was majorly the does and their newly born fawns. Not that it was easy to tell the difference between them and the bucks now that they had lost their antlers. As always there were a couple of look outs while the rest of the herd grazed, though even they had yet to spy the two wolves stalking them.

Had there been more than just the two of them Ysmir would have gone full out, wolves were meant to outpace their prey. They pounced when the animal was exhausted, but with just the two of them stealth would be the superior option. Much like a pair of large cats. Dual toned gaze met Maelstrom’s as they both glanced at the fawns that were frolicking a bit away from the rest of the herd. Ysmir felt slightly morose for taking the young ones, but more were born than could survive. They had young to feed as well.

Ysmir gave a soft nod of knowing and the hunt was fully initiated. Their target was picked, they were gaining ground, and the small creature was all but theirs already. Their approach was careful, and most of all quiet, but their cover would not last forever. Ysmir’s big paws carried him around with Mael, closer to the excited fawns. However, of no fault of their own, a shift in the wind blew across the pair of them and alerted the herd to their presence. With a single warning call from an older doe.

Maelstrom’s voice followed quickly after, asserting their need to run now. Ysmir figured their hunt was over with now, but maybe the boy was right. Perhaps there was still a chance. Ysmir threw caution to the wind and pushed himself off with a strong leap into a dead run towards their prey. If they ran for long enough one of the deer was bound to slow enough they could catch it. However, it seemed like the two of them were fast enough that they could catch one of the smaller fawns.

Ysmir put on a burst of speed, using a big cat tactic he leaped ahead and with one paw aimed to swipe at the back hooves, tripping the young creature and ensuring its doom. The fawn bleated in horror before Ysmir quickly ended its life.

wc: 535
total: 1536