Come down, come down sweet reverence

Jynn was glad she arrived at the Corpseghoul Swamplands in the middle of the day. The swampy ground was a mix of short grasses and patches of cloudy blue water. Here and there big clumps of spiky, dark green grasses grew up out of the ground as well as a few small plants with lovely lavender flowers. Jynn was pretty sure it wasn't the plant called lavender but something else. The tallest plants were of course the trees. However, they were covered in scaly bark that grew clear up their lengths and long tendrils of green vines looped from one tree to another. Thankfully there were patches of sunlight that reached down to the swamp floor and illuminated her way. She paused near a tree and carefully used her claws to scratch marks into it to help her as she ventured through the swamp. She'd heard too many tales of wolves going into places like this and not coming out.

Hattori's legs were caked with mud as he ventured through the swamplands. As per usual he wandered from Ashen's limits, both out of a desire to stretch his legs but to also test himself against whatever beasts he would most likely encounter. For a while he had found it odd that he stumbled across so many predators eager and ready to shed blood but these days he thought little of it. Their loss was his gain and with each fight his skills increased. What sorts of creatures called this swamp their home? He wasn't entirely sure, Nippon didn't house many-if any- swampy terrains and thus he was wandering through unknown territory, his keen senses razor sharp as he carefully made his way through the brackish waters.

It was then he noticed a long legged canine in the distance. Tall and leggy, with an orangish coat somewhat similar to the dholes he'd once faced. He watched her for a moment, noting how she observed the foliage around them with far more interest than he'd bothered to display.

Come down, come down sweet reverence

Jynn walked across the land, the moist ground squishing beneath her feet. It was covered with marsh grass and here and there small irises were growing in the warm and humid air. At least for now. Autumn was still young in he south bu she imagined winter would bring a number of changes. She was most curious to see if it would snow, assuming she stayed here and didn't head back into Auster. Jynn paused at another tree to scratch a marking into it. She did not want to get lost in a swamp. Her large picked up the sound of movement, swiveling toward the source as her head followed. She spied an unusual looking man with bright orange in his coat as well as horns. She smiled amiably. "Hey there, how are you? Getting in your last dose of mosquito bites before winter?" She chuckled to herself before stretching up another tree and using her claws to mark the trail once more.

Úlfr's first solo attempt at hunting an injured elk had ended in failure. Still, he was determined to give it another shot or at least use this opportunity to study and learn. Úlfr had caught the scent of blood and was now tracking another injured buck that had been on the losing end of a fight with a more experienced opponent over a doe.

He was a little dismayed to track the elk into the swamplands. Had it sensed him and was now taking shelter? He carefully moved around the wetter, muddier patches. Perhaps he could use the terrain to his advantage. Surely a wolf would have an easier time navigating through this territory than an elk. He went farther in when he came upon a strange fox-like woman and the horned man, Hattori. He grinned. "Hey there, you two wouldn't be interested in hunting an injured elk would you?

Come down, come down sweet reverence

Jynn bent her head to sniff lightly at some flowers that were still in bloom but it was clear that the slight drop in temperature was having an affect. Shame the effect wasn't relaxing some of the humidity. She eyed the sky for a moment and saw clouds moving in. It could mean rain in the future but it was hard to tell. The clouds were pretty spread out. She moved over to a nearby tree and stretched up it to scratch in a trail marker. At that moment a youth appeared and mentioned that he was hunting an elk. Come to think of it, it had been awhile since she'd gone hunting. "I could be convinced to assist for some food."

Hattori had been about to anwser the long limbed woman when his senses snapped to another canine entering the scene. He paused, half wondering if a fight was about to unfold only to realise he recognised the boy. A budding hunter and fighter, Úlfr. Rumbling in agreement, since he knew what the deal entailed, Hattori rolled his shoulders as he scented the air. Now that it had been pointed out to him it was unmistakable. The distant yet tantalising scent of blood on the breeze, faint but enough to prompt Hattori to get on the move. He lifted his head and sniffed the air, testing the air direction as the trio slowly but surely moved closer and closer to their potential prey.

Hanako wasn't a hunter, or at least a talented one but she had an itch to stretch her legs and somehow that developed into not so sneakily trailing after what appeared to be a hunting party. It was hard not to notice Hattori and whilst she offered him a big and welcoming beam he merely offered her a side glance. As though she wasn't worth his time! Hmph! Not that it really mattered as she was soon swept up in the thick of it, following the others-including a very lanky wolf- as they squelched through the swamplands. The smell of blood was strong now, right up her nose and itching the back of her throat. But as nasty as this hunting business was it was better than being covered in mud or even her own vomit.

She paused and let out a soft oooh when she noticed the fresh trail that wove off to the left of their party.

Úlfr grinned as the unusual looking woman said she would help with the hunt. With her long legs she looked like she would be a good runner and could keep up with the elk though her slight frame wouldn't be as much use in the take down. Úlfr had been around Hattori long enough to know that the horned man was in. He scented the air and followed after the other man in pursuit of their prey. They were also joined by a woman he didn't recognize but she seemed to know Hattori so the more the merrier.

As they moved Úflr's ears flicked up at the sounds of struggle and the wolves came upon the elk struggling in bog water up to its belly as it tried to get back up on solid ground.

Come down, come down sweet reverence

Jynn was easy-going and hungry so she didn't mind at all when the young woman joined them. In fact she flashed the other female a grin. It would be nice to have a balance of estrogen on this hunting party even though these guys seemed more level-headed than the bravado filled jerks she was used to hunting with back home. She followed along with the group until they saw the young buck struggling in the swamp, caught in mud and muck. Well, this was either a blessing or a curse. Being light on her feet she moved around toward the solid ground the elk was trying to get on. She took a jump toward it to test it and it lashed its horns forward. She jumped aside. It still had some fight.

Hattori rather rudely ignored poor Hanako as he worked, straining his senses. With all four sets of eyes and ears on the look out it didn't take long to find the creature, weak and struggling as it tried uselessly to push itself back onto its hooves. It seemed as though in it's pained state it hadn't taken the change of terrain into account and now it was paying the mortal price. There was no way of getting out of this situation, certainly not when wolves-plus a maned wolf- had arrived on the scene. He let out a long puff of air, as though lamenting the lack of challenge, before he carefully stepped into the mud, his steps light as he could manage as he rather callously used the elk as a foothold. Without even thinking his talons dug in, aiding his grip and balance, leaving cuts in their wake.

It tried and failed to lash out at him with its hind hooves but the angle was all wrong, he'd approached from behind and thus there was nothing it could do but cry and kick. Like that would help. Standing on it's side, he reached down to grab a hold of it's throat, if nothing they'd put it out of its misery quickly.

Oh man, Hanako felt pretty bad for the elk as Hattori just went and stood on it, like it was a rock or something equally as unfeeling. She grimaced as she stepped closer, her nose wrinkling at the squelch of mud beneath her paws. Hattori looked like he knew what he was doing but try as he might the angle was all wrong. From where he stood the elk couldn't kick him but he couldn't get a proper bite on it's throat either. Hanako glanced to the others, wondering if they knew what to do, or how to best help.

With a reluctant huff, she skirted around and grabbed a hold of it's fluffy tail and pulled as hard as she could manage. Maybe they would be enough to distract it, to allow Hattori or one of the other's to get a more workable hold.

Úlfr paused for a moment to observe the elk before he followed Jynn around and watched as she tested it. The elk still had quite a bit of fight in it but it was growing weaker the more it struggled. The horned man set upon the elk, talons digging in and fangs latching at the hapless creatures throat. Úlfr tested the ground to make sure he wouldn't get stuck then he leapt forward, fangs sinking into the nearest shoulder to help slow the struggling creature's movements. If he could just help hold it still enough so that Hattori could finish the job then they could focus on dragging it out of the mud.

Come down, come down sweet reverence

Jynn hung back as she watched the others work. She was built for speed and tracking more so than for taking down large and dangerous animals of prey. She waited until the man and the boy had taken their places before she joined in, biting onto the right side of the elk's neck right in the middle to try and limit the flailing of its head so that the horned man could finish the hapless creature off. And then they could eat! She couldn't wait to sink her teeth into a nice, warm meal. Especially, from a creature of this size. As a loner and lighter built wolf she stuck mostly to smaller prey like rabbits and rodents.

Hattori strained and reached but his efforts weren't enough to seal the deal. He tutted in frustration as he crotched lower, hoping that would give him the leverage he needed. Except that the others came on through and pinned it down. Four sets of jaws ripped into flesh, tugging and holding the elk place, granting Hattori the angle and position he needed to deliver the killing blow. He rumbled in appreciation and lunged with the speed of diving eagle, his teeth connected to the soft expanse of it's throat and he felt, rather than heard, the elk let out a pained gurgle. It's breathing was wet and wheezy, and it wasn't struggling much if at all now.  There was plenty to go around and as far as the Shinobi was concerned they'd all earned their keep.

Hanako's muzzle was stained red as she held on for deer-elk- life. She wasn't made for this but she was trying her dang best and though for the longest time it didn't feel like her actions had much of an impact the elk slowly, as though falling asleep, stopped struggling. She let out a panting breath as she released the tail, covered in mud and blood, and looked at Hattori still perched atop the elk. Well...she was glad it was him, she supposed. He always seemed to know what he was doing and at least now they could share the spoils, right? No one would get greedy and claim the lions share, surely?