Hattori was once again on the hunt, standing atop one of the surrounding hills that overlooked the prairie as a honky call reached his ears. His brows drew together as he scanned the gathering of grazers below, trying to figure out what creature had made the ungodly sound. But that was easier said than done. Even with winter steadily approaching the prairie was as full as he'd ever seen it, the grass decently long and lush, with herds of grazers spread out as far as his eyes could see. He breathed in deep, savouring the myriad of scents in the back of his nose as he pushed that odd sound to the back of his mind. His time would be better spent looking out of a weak target, the sort he could bring down on his own without assistance. But there it was, that sound again and Hattori gritted his teeth in a rare show of annoyance. How was he supposed to focus with that shriek poking at his ears?

It was only then that he dragged his gaze away from the bulk of the grazers and looked to the outskirts of the prairie. A lone donkey stood by the edge, constantly shifting it's weight between it's hooves as it paced back and forth. It raised his head once more and honked, seemingly calling for more of it's own kind with reckless abandon. There was a note of desperation in it's voice and Hattori felt his interest shift, perhaps pursuing the donkey would be time well spent.

Viper had been keen on staying away from Fireside at least for now. It was an overall new feeling for her since she typically just went about her days without a care in the world and had frankly forgotten all about pack life and boundaries and rules. But here she was making large detoured circles around the center of Boreas, because surprisingly she was a little scared deep down what Tyrian would actually do if he found her close to the borders after their short agreement. The honking sound of the donkey wouldn’t really bother her from the distance, as she may have learned to almost block out all sounds of wildlife and they became quiet background noise regardless of how well she knew the sound or where it come from. But as she wandered along the prairie, she’d top over a small hill and see a dark figure like herself though incredibly large stalking along towards the noisy meal. She hesitated if only for a couple seconds before scurrying after the colorful man. She let out a low whine to show her presence to him but not purposefully low enough to not startle the abandoned target ahead. When he would become aware of her and she could catch up, she would be less than greeting and instead start off in nearly a whisper, "You gonna take down that horse?" eh- horse, donkey, same difference. Viper did actually know it was a donkey but the term horse came to her quicker rather than that actual kind of game that laid before them. Walk "Talk" Think

Hattori wasn't left alone for long. He turned a little, side eying the loner with his usual squinty gaze and flicked his ear in acknowledgement. Though not overly submissive, Hattori made it rather clear she didn't need to be, she was fine as is and he had no quarrel with her presence for now. Especially if she was willing to make herself useful. At her question he shot her another look, as though to say really? Could she not tell the difference between a donkey or a horse, or did she simply not care for the finer details? Hattori wasn't sure and wasn't invested enough to find out, with a sharp exhale he let the matter go and finally rumbled in response.

"Yes. Follow my lead."He ordered without preamble.

Breaking into a sprint, Hattori paws thudded against the earth as he charged down the hill. The herds scattered at the sight of him and just as he'd expected the donkey ceased it's wailing to look at him with wide, frightened eyes. Normally Hattori wouldn't dive headfirst into a hunt like this, all brazen and brash without much thought, but wolves were built for the chase and he suspected that he had far more stamina than the moany donkey did. It had to be kicking up a ruckus for a reason and if Hattori was right then it would lend itself into their favour. Upon noticing the hulking wolf's sudden approach the donkey let out a high pitched whine and kicked off into a sprint, its ears pinned back as it's mouth hung open to gasp in as much air as possible.  The chase was on.

Viper wouldn't catch on to any slight annoyance or just the brute's dumbfoundedness towards her illogical comment. But instead of honestly or brutally correcting her he would just go on with his goal. Unfortunately there wasn't a way for Viper to say thank you if she was even willing to considering he had completely ignored the unintentional mix up. Without another word, she'd go to follow him. Though Viper was usually pretty outspoken regardless of her less than intelligent attitude, her days leading after Fireside had made her grow a little more cold and want to go without word. It had all come down on her at once that she didn't know all she thought she did and her disappoint towards Jupiter beat her tiny little heart to death it seemed. Nothing she would admit or want to talk about. Her pace picked up as Hattori's did, and she kept up pretty well despite her small size and at the time weaker body. She wasn't used to the chase anymore, she had been locked in a pit after all. She was also more used to taking down deer or smaller prey opposed to a fat ass. She would only glance towards her hunting comrade before veering off just slightly to take over the left side of the donkey, though she wasn't really well versed with just waiting for it to lose it's energy or stamina to go in for the kill. She would catch on rather quickly though as the donkey started to slow slightly especially from it's panic away from it's herd before their pursuit. She'd continue to move forward, staying steady along the donkey's hip and then up around the shoulder with a quick look towards the blotched male, hoping that their minds were in the same place to cut it off and take it to an end. Who knew she could be so good at teamwork? But instead of going forward on her own, she would wait until Hattori would make his move in a hidden fear that she didn't want to mess things up. Walk "Talk" Think

Hattori was still running strong by the time the donkey began to falter. It was subtle at first but as the chase stretched on and on it's stride became choppy and mismatched, try as it might it's legs couldn't stick to the rhythm. It tossed it's neck from side to side, as though it wanted to dart off to the side in an attempt to escape, but the wolves had it pinned in, Hattori on it's right and the loner to it's left. It had no choice but to keep running forward, to run and run till it could no more. The other grazes looked on from a safe distance, mouths agape and wide eyed, enthralled by the scene that was unfolding before their eyes. Perhaps even grateful that they weren't on the receiving end.

But enough was enough, they'd tired the donkey out enough that Hattori knew it wouldn't put up much of a fight now, if any. He wasn't one to play with his food and the sooner they put it out of it's misery the better. Slowing down a pace or two, Hattori allowed himself to fall behind by a couple of steps only to launch himself forward at the donkey's throat. His talons tore into the flesh of it'd wide neck, leaving bleeding drag marks as the donkey was sent tumbling. Even with the lush green grass it landed hard and it let out a groan as the air was knocked from it's lungs, it feebly kicked at the air, attempting to keep the predators at bay but it wasn't enough nor would it ever be. Hattori stepped around to pin the creature down with the bulk of his weight, preventing the donkey from getting back onto it's hooves. In a sudden flash of movement, he lunged for it's throat and held on tight, choking the life out of the donkey. Given his position he couldn't see well but he imagined that the loner would make herself useful and speed up the process, especially if she was as hungry as she looked.

The large brute would go in for his final move at the throat, so Viper would move in herself as the donkey continued to slow from the exhaustion and now the massive brute clinging to it's neck. Viper would go to start snatching at the prey's back leg, her head swiftly shot up as it kicked up in a panic, luckily not getting to clip her skull. Still, she would go back to grab a hold as the orange man had, and just as she was able to cling to it's thin foreleg, it would come crumbling down with both the weight of Hattori and it's loss of balance from her grasp on it's limb. The brute would go to end it's life quickly, an honor that Viper wouldn't even take care to notice. Though if she were alone, she would be just as quick not for the mercy of her meal but to get it to stop struggling so she could eat. She actually wouldn't go to look it in the eye as it twitched until it's life faded, perhaps a hidden fear deep inside of wanting the creature dead. Something she ignored for many years after her first solo kill. Perhaps the  light makings of Aranea through her blood. But she wouldn't hesitate long after to grab a hold of the meals leg and twist it wrongfully backward to detach the meat from it's whole body. She struggled if only for a short moment, but would be successful in taking the piece. She'd then take a lay down beside the lifeless body and start to gnaw on the thigh of her mangled meat. As if the brute wasn't even there anymore, and it would appear she didn't have any thanks to give. More so her nature as she didn't even look towards the orange male again. Walk "Talk" Think

Though they had put equal effort into bringing down the donkey, Hattori let her ear first. She needed it far more than he did. Standing statue still his gaze roamed the prairie once more, watching for any predators that were potentially alerted by the scent of freshly shed blood. His ears tipped forward and he attempted to block out the sound of her crunching and cracking her way through bone. She ate and ate till Hattori was convinced by now she was more donkey than wolf. He turned then, catching her gaze as he stepped forth and stepped on the donkeys side, his talons digging into flesh.

"If you want to make a better living for yourself follow me and join Ashen. " It was a statement, a fact in his eyes. Whether she followed or not was her choice, he wouldn't force her.

Viper went about her munching for what seemed liked too long to go through silence with another. Not that she realized that Hattori had been silent anyway, and she acted like he wasn’t even there anymore anyway. As the Koi man broke her hunger, her eyes glanced up with a bone still gnawed in her jaws. Though normally she would tell him to back off, that she could fend and take care of herself, she had been questioning her choices or more accurately her lack of common sense lately. She raised a brow at the man, holding the gaze for a good few seconds before looking back down at the bone and placing it down at her paws. ”Why’d you wanna ask? No one else wants to keep me around.” It was genuinely how she felt, even if she couldn’t pinpoint why everyone wanted to push her away. But Viper had never actually wanted to be part of a pack or band or family. She believed once that she was an heir to a throne, even if the culture of her father’s pack didn’t necessarily give her the right to rise in the power just by blood. But she had let those feelings drain after her abandonment of her name sake. She still couldn’t really imagine being apart of a pack for any reason, but maybe it wouldn’t be so bad if she could put her own skills to work. Walk "Talk" Think

Her question was fair, if not a little defensive. It seemed as though his offer was unexpected, and so often wolves lashed out when faced with uncertainty. The Shinobi didn't respond right away and instead considered his response with a slight tilt of his head. It wasn't anything personal and he'd be a liar if he claimed any affection or pity for her. It was just that Hattori did not like to see potential or assets wasted, they would both gain something from this and as long as they were honest about their expectations he saw no reason as to why they couldn't come to some sort of arrangement.

"Then that is their problem and not mine. " It was clear she had some baggage to deal with, perhaps some routine and stability would help with that. She could make something of herself and a chance for that was right before her. "The choice is yours, I will not press the matter. "

He dragged the carcass closer, intending to haul it over his back to carry it home.

Viper really did have to think about what she wanted, or maybe what she expected of herself. Hattori wasn't necessarily personal with her. Though maybe that was more desirable to her compared to craving someone to say, love her. She didn't know what she craved or expected of herself. She was back on square one with survival outside the bars of enslavement. The orange brute would pick up the kill to take back to his so-called Ashen and Viper still couldn't come to a decision. But when the brute would go to move forward she stepped forward behind him with anticipation. Though she had a lot of backlash emotions about her feelings for Jupiter, what if learning pack life outside of the slave life would help her learn what Jupiter expected of her? Of course she wasn't aware that Jupiter was emotionally well off without her and was certainly glad that Tyrian had pushed her out of Fireside. But still the thought of impressing him and wanting him to be her friend clouded her judgment on most things. And she'd be lying if she said she was sad that she couldn't walk back into his home to visit him, whether he wanted her to or not. "I'd... I'd like to try." Boy, her ambition would have seemed non-existent. But there was a tone in her voice that showed that she was eager to please. If not for Hattori and Ashen, definitely Jupiter. And if anything, maybe she would show Tyrian and Fireside what they had missed out on. Her brokenness showed heavily through her appearance and voice, her harsh self-esteem hard to hide at this low moment in her life. "What're goin' to want me to do?" A simple question to ask. She wasn't keen on the ways of natural pack life. Considering she trespassed into a pack without acknowledging it. But she would have to learn what would be expected of her and maybe she had reached the point of her life where she was accepting help from others. Walk "Talk" Think

Hattori nodded just barely, the weight of the carcass bearing down on his shoulders and back. it was heavy and uncomfortable but a burden he'd gladly bear to keep Ashen's stores full. Besides, she'd eaten a fair amount and so made his load a little lighter, intentionally of course, he hadn't just let her have her fill just from the kindness of his heart. As for her next question, Hattori grunted as he began to walk, leading the way back to Ashen. It was quiet a way but he was about certain they could get there before sundown.

"Focus on regaining your strength for now. Patrol and familiarise yourself with the borders if you feel able. Once you are well I will find something for you to do. " He shot her a side eye glance, gauging her willingness.