Having visited this place before, Resin knew that the hunting was favorable. The abundance of prey made things easy and the rolling grasses and scattered trees made cover plentiful. She wasn't quite ready to hunt yet, and so the woman sat upon a raised bit of land, looking out over the prairie before her. From her vantage point, she could see the various gatherings of animals. Deer, grouse, bison. Two of the three were ripe for the picking. Bison weren't worth the risk for a lone wolf.

As she waited for the wind to shift in her direction, the one-eyed woman merely rested, gathering her strength and preparing for the task that was to come. Behind her, the pair of jackals that were always on her tail were rolling around in the grass, bickering and yapping at one another. Casting a sidelong glance at them, the maned woman released a low growl. The jackals instantly ceased and hunkered down in the grass. They knew a meal was coming, and so they were more than happy to be compliant with their hunters wishes.

That Sea is just a Gambler at Heart

Dómari's focus was solely on hunting now that winter was so close. While Valhalla wasn't a huge pack he did want to make sure they had a good amount of food to start out the winter until they knew how the prey would fair. He'd been tracking a herd of whitetail deer and debating if it was worth the effort. His foxes were with him and could move much quicker than he could but they were sprinters. Could the trio really take down a white tail deer? He felt it was unlikely unless one of them was quite sick.

Lynvarr nudged him and he gazed down at the pale fox. He'd heard something. Dómari scented the wind and caught the scent of another wolf. He followed it and saw a woman about his age not to far off. He recognized her as one of the women that came this his rescue when he was attacked by a bear. He kept a respectful distance but got close enough to be able to speak to her in a lower voice. "Would you care for a partner this hunt? We could split the kill 50/50."

A chittering from the jackals let the woman know that someone was approaching long before the man showed himself. She was pleasantly surprised to see that it was someone that she knew. Well... someone that she was acquainted with, anyway. The brutes tone's met dark ears and she nodded. "Domari," she said in greeting, remembering the mans name. "A shared hunt would be ideal," she agreed. Rising from her place, she shook out her thick, silver pelt.

Motioning in a northerly direction with her nose, she also spoke in low tones. "That herd there has been grazing in place for quite a time. They're sure to be fat and full. The fat doe to the far right would make our kill worthwhile." She cast her singular gaze at him, wondering if he would agree or disagree.

That Sea is just a Gambler at Heart

Dómari grinned, pleased that Resin felt his offer acceptable. That meant a much higher chance of success between the two of them. He listened as she spoke and scanned through the herd until he saw the fat doe to the far right. She was quite big and for a moment he wondered if she was potentially pregnant. Either way he felt she was worth a shot. Dómari nodded. "Yea, sounds good to me. What's your plan of attack?" As Resin had been there longer and had been watching the herd he trusted that she had an idea in mind for this hunt and he was happy to go along with her plan and play any part that he needed to. He felt Lynvarr lean up against him, his large ears alert for the plan. He would simply go along and assist Dómari.

He asked for her plan of attack and, since there was two of them now, her plan had to change. "We could run it ragged, or one of us could run it into the others jaws." One running it to the other would be more ideal. "Would you rather run, or lay in wait?" Either way he chose, they would need to start moving towards their prey. As she waited for him to decide, she motioned for the man to begin creeping forward with her. For a big woman, she moved very quietly. Long years of living alone had taught her how to move relatively unseen and unheard. Though she couldn't hear them, she knew that her jackal entourage was creeping along as well. Though they were more pests than anything, the pair helped hem in straying prey. They also alerted her to danger early, and so she let them follow her and eat from her kills. "Speech"

That Sea is just a Gambler at Heart

"I think I'd rather one of us lay in wait. I've done a lot of herding lately, I'll drive them toward you." He also had experience working closely with his companions and he felt certain they could coordinate between each other. Dómari lowered his frame and slinked forward with her, moving as stealthily as he could, his companions along side him. After he got as close as he felt he could without risk of being noticed he settled down to wait. He coiled his limbs beneath him and kept an eye out for Resin.

Once Resin was in position Dómari sprang forward and barreled toward the herd. The deer immediately scattered. Dómari kept his focus on the fat doe and as she darted to the left Lynvarr suddenly bounded out of the grass at her. The sight of the sudden pale ghost startled the deer, sending her stumbling back toward Dómari. He slowed to let her in front of him and then with a fox on either side suddenly spring up from the tall grass whenever she tried to dart to either side the trio managed to keep the deer going in the direction they desired. As the doe started to near Resin's waiting place Dómari put on a burst of speed and snapped more violently at the doe to help divide her attention. He didn't want the doe to notice the other wolf until it was too late.

Upon hearing that he would run the doe to her, Resin nodded and cut he course away from him, moving carefully ahead of the doe so that she might intercept it. Moving ahead of where Domari would lead the doe, Resin hunkered down in the brush. She made sure that she had a clear view of the herd so that she would know exactly when to strike. Time passed and she saw the mans pale form rush into view. The herd scattered, but he did a very good job of keeping their prey on course. His companions did their parts as well, and the maned woman was pleased. The corners of her maw lifted in what could almost be called a smile right before she rocketed out of the underbrush. The woman's big body collided with the frightened, distracted deer and it leaped into the air as best as it could. During its ascent, teeth tore into its stomach, slipping down to latch firmly into one hind leg. Their combined weights send wolf and deer crashing to the ground, but she didn't lose her hold. Teeth were locked into the hind leg. All Domari needed to do was bite the neck and they would have themselves a meal. "Speech"

That Sea is just a Gambler at Heart

Resin and the doe collided violently. As her teeth tore into flesh the scent of blood saturated the air. Dómari wasted no time in bounding forward, twisting around as he bound toward the front of the wounded animal. The doe kicked out with her front legs, striking Dómari in the shoulder but that did not slow him as he pushed forward, jaws wide as thirsty fangs sank into her neck. The doe continued to struggle but it was clear she was caught and soon her life passed on into the next realm, leaving her empty body for the wolves.

Dómari let go of the doe's neck and took a step back to catch his breath. He nodded to Resin. "Excellent work. Are you just hunting for meat or would you care to skin and tan the hide? After we skin I'm fine with dividing that in half as well."

Domari did as he needed to do and bit into the neck of the deer. It died after a little struggle and left the pair of wolves with their kill. Releasing her hold, Resin licked the blood from her lips and settled back. Ears perked as the man asked about tanning the hide or just splitting the kill. She tilted her head slightly, a rumble in her chest. "I must admit that I've never tanned a hide myself. I usually take the things back and let my daughter work on them. She has more patience than I do." A light shrug was given. "I'm not opposed to helping you tan a hide, however. You can keep the whole thing." What could be done with half of a deer hide? She would let him keep the hide. "Consider it a gift. A thank you for helping an old, battered warrior bring down a kill with ease." Strange, serrated teeth flashed in a bare grin as she teased. "Speech"

That Sea is just a Gambler at Heart

Dómari grinned back as Resin offered to let him keep the hide. "Thank you, I appreciate that as well as your help assisting an old man who likes to get in over his head." He chuckled then bent down and examined the deer for a moment. "In order to tan the hide we'll need to get it off first. I'll make an incision around the neck. Can you deal with the legs? You can either try to make a cut all the way around the arm or just bite off the lower part of the legs." The skin there was thin and Dómari often found it easier to just bite them off but he did know of those who had luck skinning clear down at the wrists. That just hadn't been his experience. Dómari moved up to the neck of the deer where he'd delivered the killing blow. He worked his teeth in and began to work his fangs around until he had a completed blood ring around the doe's neck.

The pair shared polite banter. Domari was glad to accept the entire hide. He suggested that she begin removing the hide from the legs while he began up at the neck. Resin made a soft hum of thoughtfulness as she inspected the legs. Though her teeth were sharp and made for sheering, it would be easier just to remove the lower bits of leg. And so she did. The woman started at one hind leg, biting into flesh and bone. She severed the tendon and worked her jaws back and forth to pop the bone right out of its cup. She repeated this action with all four legs, though the front ones seemed to give her a harder time. Eventually there were four lower legs piled nearby. "Speech"

That Sea is just a Gambler at Heart

Dómari was pleased to see Resin make quick work of the deers lower limbs. He was excited to get the skinning part finished so they could talk and work at the same time. That was the problem with having to use your mouth to do the skinning but he didn't have too many options unless he wanted to give the job to his fox companions. He glanced over to where they were, curled up in a little pile, exhausted from the chase. He wasn't surprised. They didn't have the same stamina as wolves.

"Ok, I'll need to make a gut from the neck all the way down the deers underside to its vent. If you could make a cut on each remaining section of leg and join it up to the center line then we should have all the seams we need." He'd probably remove the tail but they could see to that when it was time. Dómari moved back to the neck and began working his way down, being careful to coordinate with Resin so as not to get in her way.

When he got past the ribs to where the guts were he slowed down. He didn't want to accidentally pierce too far in spill everything out onto their hard work. Moving carefully he got the rest of his cut finished.

Ears flicked forward as he made a suggestion for her next course of action. With a nod, she began slicing through the skin of each leg, bringing it up so that it would join the straight line down the abdomen that Domari was making. This bit she knew about. It was only the actual processing of the hide that she didn't have much experience in.

Carefully, she moved up each leg, making her lines as clean as possible. It was easier with her teeth than it might be with his. They were perfect for shearing. Just as he did with her, she worked around him. Once each leg was done, she pulled back, allowing him space to concentrate on the thin underbelly.

That Sea is just a Gambler at Heart

Dómari grinned as Resin finished up her task just as he finished up his. "Perfect! Your teeth are really good at this. Ok, now we just need to start peeling the hide back." Dómari started up by the neck and started pulling the hide back. He had to hold the hide back with his paws on the neck while he worked his fangs underneath to continue snipping the hide free of the flesh beneath. He figured they could do one side now and then flip the deer over and pull off the rest of the hide before tanning. Dómari paused and stretched his jaw. "After we finish skinning are you interested in tanning the hide?" He set his jaws back to work, continuing to peel the flesh, this time off the front legs while he listened for her answer. At one point he yipped to his foxes who moved in to help the duo. Many paws made light work!

The man's compliment lifted the corners of her maw again before she set to work pulling the skin back from the flesh. Again, the two wolves worked together smoothly like a seasoned team. They were conscientious of each others actions and moved around one another. Domari called in the help of his foxes and they made short work of the bottom of the deer. They flipped it and began peeling up the back. Before long, they had the hide separated from the flesh. Resin took the deer and placed it upon a rock to keep it away from dirt and insects.

Ears perked as Domari spoke of tanning the hide. "Might as well complete the job." She was interested in seeing just how he completed the process. Again, she knew a bit about it, but hadn't put much practice into the act.

That Sea is just a Gambler at Heart

Dómari was tickled at how much quicker the skinning process went with another set of jaws. When they'd finished skinning the deer and set it aside he moved toward the skull. Resin was good with finishing the job and he was pleased. They were having good luck so far. He noticed a few vultures overhead but they didn't seem too keen on disturbing the wolves. "Ok, do you want to finish scraping off any remaining flesh while I get the brain?" Unlike a rabbit cracking the deer skull was going to take a bit more maneuvering. He didn't want to crush the brain too early. Dómari attacked the skull from the eye sockets, his fangs piercing through the eyes as he started crunching away the bone there, pausing now and then to pull off little bits.

Resin worked to peel the bits of flesh away from the hide. What she couldn't scrape off with her teeth, she scraped off with a stone that she found near the carcass of the deer. Overhead the buzzards circled. They wouldn't dare to come down... or would they? A shriek from the jackals and the flapping of wings proved otherwise. At least the pair was making themselves useful. Lazy freeloaders...

Once she decided that the hide was properly scraped and ready to go, the now bloodied fae turned to Domari. She had heard him chipping away at the skull of the deer and stepped closer to observe.

That Sea is just a Gambler at Heart

Dómari continued working away at the skull until at last he had the brain exposed. He tipped the head of the deer to the side to get as much aid from gravity as possible. Using one of his paws he carefully pushed the brain out until he could slip his jaws in and sever the spinal cord. It was messy and the texture strange but he got the job done. He seized the brain in his mouth and trotted over to the hide where Resin had finished scraping it. He dropped the brain down on the hide. He thought about trying to find some sticks or something to stretch it but they weren't in the best location for that. Oh, rocks!

"Ok, next step, let's move these rocks onto the four corners of the hide and then we'll start smearing the brain into the hide. The chemicals in the brain should help preserve the hide fibers." He trotted over to one of the rocks and started rolling it awkwardly with his paws until he had one corner secured. He then repeated the process with the other rock.

Rocks were suggested to hold the hide flat and Resin went to look for some without complaint. She was learning a lot by watching Domari. As he rolled one rock, she rolled another. They both rolled another and soon the skin was secure simply by weight on the leg flaps.

Next Domari brought the brain to settle upon the wet underside of the hide. He explained what needed to be done and Resin got to work. Using her big paws, she broke off a piece of the brain and brought it to her side of the skin. Putting her weight into it, she mashed the grey matter and worked it into the skin, careful to get all the way to the edges. From watching Iolaire work, she knew that the edge of the skin could be sheered straight with a knife to make them more appealing. She wasn't sure if Domari planned on doing that with his skin, however. The brain felt interesting as it squished through her toes and she shook off the remnants to smear into other parts of the skin. There was barely enough to cover the whole skin, and so she needed to work sparingly.

That Sea is just a Gambler at Heart

With the hide a bit more secured it was time to start working the brain into the hide. They divided it in half and Dómari started squishing his paws into the strange organ. Working his paws in small circles he started smearing the brain across the hide, working to get as close to the edge as he could. He wanted to hopefully tan the whole thing and judged that they would have just enough to get the job done. Resin moved in a manner that suggested she'd done this before or at least had a good idea what to do. He didn't feel worried at all and was pleased for the help.

Dómari continued to work until he had nothing more to work with. He stepped off the hide and looked to Resin. "I think that will do it. Really, I can't thank you enough for your help."