He had things he needed to think about, but that could come later. What he wanted now was to distract himself. Keep himself busy with hunting. It hadn't been long since he had done so but it was what he needed. Quickly gathering some large sticks and leaves to make the trap less obvious, the pale boy began to dig into the soft grass and dirt. His ruby eyes focused on a spot close enough to the springs that the steam blowing off of the pools would help obscure what he was doing. Plus, he knew the rising mound of the pools nestled into the hillside would help direct what prey he could find toward the trap. 1/3 craft trap 0/3 hunt animal

She had been getting away with her escapades for quite some time now. Though she expected some sort of retribution sooner or later, she was already preparing for that. Until then, she would continue doing what she was doing. Her father whom she had been talking to in her dreams had been helping her. Coaching her. She was not afraid of whatever might come, and she certainly wasn't going to lie down and let it happen. But when she saw Ghoul's familiar pale form slip out of pack lands, she moved to follow. After all, she couldn't get in trouble for this escape if she was technically with an escort, right? It made sense in her head, at least. And unless they were all in the loop with one another (which she doubted), she had an escort almost every time she left. Regardless, she convinced herself that if Ghoul was here, there was no reason for her to get in trouble. She stayed a little behind though, working on her sneaking and tracking until they reached the Hot Springs. Once there, she spotted him gathering sticks and leaves before digging a hole. Her ears perked up. He was making a trap!? She was familiar with making those! Before approaching him, she gathered up a few sticks and a mouthful of leaves herself before she made her appearance. Maybe it was the constant rain that had been happening since Spring started, but she didn't smell as bad as she usually did. She smelled more like wet earth today with just a hint of her usual. She walked right up to him, dropping her bundle of sticks and leaves before grinning. "Medusa wants to help," She stated, before she started digging at the edge of the hole. Whether he wanted it or not, she wasn't keen on being sent back to Habari right now to just sit around and do nothing. "Medusa"

Distracted by his task at hand, he would've ignored the girl completely if the scent coming off of her wasn't familiar. Pausing as he heard the rustle of sticks and leaves being dragged closer, Ghoul glanced up to see Medusa on her way over. He still had questions for her about her appearance at the challenge, but those would wait for later. As far as he was concerned, she continued to return to Habari so where was the harm in her escapades? She announced she wanted to help and began digging - he wasn't going to deny her. "Good," he said roughly before continuing to dig himself. The hole was going to need to be deep and wide enough to fit at least three full-grown deer... They had their work cut out for them. 2/3 craft trap 0/3 hunt animal

She was answered with a simple word, which was fine. She was content busying herself with helping out. At least it gave her something to do rather than her sitting around her den doing the usual. Was she working on another taxidermy project? Yeah, of course she was. But she needed a break since she had hit a roadblock with her work. So, she dug. It was mindless work. She didn't have to think and use her brain to dig a hole. She didn't know how big a hole he wanted, but she supposed she'd just keep digging until he said to stop. Her paws moved quickly and efficiently, though she was starting to notice she was having to bend further down since she had...grown a little more. She thought she had finished growing a long time ago, but apparently, maybe she was having a very, very late growth spurt, or perhaps there was something in the water. Whatever the case, at least she was still able to do most of the things she could before (except fit into smaller spaces now), and she had an easier time hunting things down in combination with her traps. "What does Ghoul want to trap?" She asked at last, curiosity getting the better of her. "Medusa"

They were nearly done thank goodness! Both were busy at work with their large paws digging away, Ghoul glanced over to notice that Medusa's paws looked larger than before. Thinking it odd at first, he decided not to question it for now. They were doing good work and it was practically time to set it before going off to find their prey. As he scooped out the last few clumps of dirt, she asked what he wanted to hunt. "Deer. There's a small herd nearby. I'm hoping we can lure them here and a few will fall in," he looked over to her with a smirk before climbing his way out of the large pit. "The hole is ready, we just need to set the leaves and sticks over top to hide it," Ghoul instructed her as he waited for her to climb out as well. Once she was safely out of the pit, he began covering it with large branches and wide leaves to disguise it as ground cover. 3/3 craft trap 0/3 hunt animal

They were nearly done. They had been digging for a while, and with their efforts, they had made a pit large enough for just about anything to fall in and possibly break a leg or three. He said their target was a small herd of deer, and she got excited at the thought. She had managed to make a trap for one deer in the past, but a larger group? This was gonna be good! "The hole is ready, we just need to set the leaves and sticks over top to hide it," She nodded as she scooped out a few more pawfuls of dirt and clambered out. She giggled in her usual fashion as she got out, and when Ghoul started setting the sticks and leaves over the pit, she helped him with it. She had made quite the number of pitfalls in the past for both prey animals and wolves...but she figured she ought to not mention the latter to him. "Medusa can't wait to see how many we get!" "Medusa"

As they finished setting the trap, Ghoul took a step back to admire their work. "Perfect, let's go," he rumbled with a shadow of a smirk lingering at the corners of his lips. Turning away, he started off in the direction where he had last smelled the herd. It didn't take long for his nose to pick it back up again and thankfully the deer hadn't wandered very far. Double checking over his shoulder to make sure Medusa was still following, Ghoul made a wide path around the herd until they were behind them and facing where their trap lay. "If you take the left and I take the right, we should be able to herd them toward the trap without difficulty," the boy whispered as he trained his gaze upon the unsuspecting deer. 3/3 craft trap 1/3 hunt animal

She shook the dirt from her pelt, scattering it on the ground before following along after him. Her head ticked a little more as the excitement of the hunt built up. She couldn't wait to see the bigger pitfall in action and the herd fall to their inevitable deaths. Assuming, of course, they managed to chase them towards the unsuspecting trap in the first place. She could smell the herd now, and they weren't too far off from where the pair had set up the trap. They made a wide birth around the herd until the two wolves were behind them. She was eager to get started, but she'd wait a minute first. All they had to do was chase them, right? With the two of them, there was no way this could be messed up! Ears perked when he spoke, and the girl nodded. There wasn't much of a need to formulate a more elaborate plan. All they had to do was chase. She (almost) quietly moved to the left side of the herd and remained just behind them, giggling as she went. Her tongue swiped along her lips, but she waited for Ghoul to get to where he wanted to be and would wait (im)patiently for him to give the signal to move. "Medusa"

While Medusa was an oddball compared to other wolves, he was thankful that she wasn't stupid. Taking well to his directions without his further need to speak more, Ghoul took off toward the right on silent paws. One of his ears flicked back as he heard her giggles, but he chose to ignore it. The deer were ignorant for the time being as he watched them continue to graze. Blissful ignorance. That was until he was aligned in position with Medusa, each of them on one side, muscles buzzing with anticipation. He sent one glance in her direction with his ruby eyes before hurdling into action. Racing toward the herd as quickly as he could before they had time to scatter, he began nipping and snapping at their heels to keep them in line toward their pitfall. 3/3 craft trap 2/3 hunt animal

She waited. Muscles tense and ready to go as she continuously cast a glance at Ghoul waiting for his signal. The moment she caught it, the pair was off like a bullet ready to hit their targets! She barked and snapped at their heels to keep the pressure on them. Whenever one tried to break off, she would run up beside it and snap at it, catching just enough skin to dissuade it from leaving the group. The pair herded them towards the traps, keeping just enough space between themselves and their prey as they chased. She could see the litter of leaves they had put over the trap, but the deer weren't so lucky to see it in time. She slowed a bit and broke away from her position so she wouldn't get caught with them, a cackle of satisfaction and glee emanating from her as the deer would inevitably fall to their demise! "Medusa"

It was working! The pitfall was going to work without a hitch. Pushing harder against the herd of deer, snapping aggressively at their ankles, Ghoul didn't let up. Keeping them in line with Medusa so their prey headed straight for their target, he could feel the anticipation building. As they neared it, he listened to the drum of hoof beats slamming into the ground. The panicked cries bleating out in desperation for the pair of wolves to let up. They wouldn't though, not when they were this close to success. Blood pounded in his veins as he scented the pitfall lying just ahead of them. Moments before the first deer would fall, Ghoul slowed his approach to a skidding halt. His eyes peeled wide open as he watched with his own version of vicious glee. One after the other, only a few being smart enough to cross the gap, the deer fell victim to the pitfall. Their bodies made sickening thudding noises as they slammed into the bottom and then into each other. Their gurgled cries for help would not be answered as the last ones either made it or didn't. Ghoul made his way to the edge, his toes barely grasping the sides as he leaned in to look at their next meals. Standing there like Scar watched Mufasa fall to his depths, Ghoul smiled a lethal sort of smile as he waited for the last rasping breath to subside. No use risking himself getting kicked in the head if they were still alive, right? Glancing over to Medusa, the crazed look never left his features. It perhaps was one of the only moments in his life he truly felt alive. Tricking stupid animals was an indescribable pleasure. 3/3 craft trap 3/3 hunt animal