Summer was starting to wind down. No longer were the days bursting with dry air and blazing heat. Instead, they were replaced with cool afternoons and northern drafts. Nightly rains provided sustenance to the flora, enough to allow them one last bloom before Autumn dug it's fingers into the terrain. With the shift of nature happening all around him, he was surprised to see the herd of musk ox had already come down from the northern lands. Perhaps snow had already fall north of the Armada? Were their grazing grounds swept away before they were ready? Watching from a distance, Ghoul crouched in the shade of some pines. Keeping himself downwind from the large furry beasts, he noticed how they weren't exactly behaving like a herd. Not like bison or deer. Almost as if they preferred solitary, but would share the space for good grazing and fresh water. His eyes continued to scan the group to see if there was suitable for him to hunt.

1/3 Hunt a large prey animal - Musk Ox (400 - 900 pounds)

Leaving her girls behind, after instructing them to stay in a neighboring forest. Azoula figured they could fortify their shelter, while she hunted down some food. Sure, she could have forced Mila and Delaeni to find something to eat- but they were dogs after all. And the tigress wanted to feast on larger, more delectable flesh- not the tiny carcass of a hare, or the sickly meat of an elder deer. Because that was all they could take down without her help. Lacking feline claws, agility, and hunting prowess. It was a surprise the two could even live without her. And so, she ventured into the area north of their hideout- following the scent of something far larger than a mere doe or hog. An ox.

Massive bovines who lived in the north, their coats thick and snow resistant, with long curved horns that protruded from their heads. They were a force to be reckoned with- living in herds, which decreased in size in the summer season, as bulls drove out subordinate males from their group. This was because their mating season occurred in the summer- meaning the bulls were on higher alert, and more aggressive. Still, Azoula wasn’t intimidated- in fact, the impending challenge sent a shiver of thrill rolling down her spine.

Coming around a bend, Azoula could see the herd off in the distance- heads down, grazing on the underbrush in a clearing, and unaware of the tigress lurking in the shadows. Staying downwind, she wove in and out of the pines. Almost unaware of the wolf hiding in the foliage, until his scent appeared on the breeze. And then, she saw him- a male wolf who wasn’t hard to find, given he nearly glowed in his white pelt against the green backdrop. Observing for a few seconds, and planning her next move. She decided it may be beneficial to use this wolf in the hunt- like she did with Tarnish.

Covering ground, she moves towards him with feline precision- silent on her paws, movement fluid and predatory. As was the nature of a large feline. “You plan to kill an ox, alone?" She questions, her voice is low and sultry, an ethereal symphony to the ears. And yet, there is an aura of danger that accompanies her. She’s a tigress after all. And a vicious one too.  

"Azoula Davati"

Marrow

Marrow continued her trek north where the air was cool and she could at last walk in the sun without feeling like she was going to sweat her paws off. Up ahead she could see a herd of large, hairy things at the base of a massive waterfall. Curiosity spurred her onward though she knew she didn't have a prayer of taking down one of those things. However, maybe if she was lucky there was a sick or old one that would drop and she could feast for days! Probably a dream, but who knew, she'd gotten lucky before.

She moved to head to the water to drink when she spied a familiar pale form. Ahhh yes, was he out hunting again? Well, if that was the case she wanted to join. She scooted quietly over on her soft, cat paws only to catch an unfamiliar scent. Whoa! Was that a tiger? "Hey there, you two hunting an ox? I'd like to join for a cut of the meat."

With Malico and his sister visiting Valta, the young man often finds that he has extra time to go out and explore. Today he had head to the north until he finds himself near a waterfall that feeds a large pool. Rocky cliffs surround him and pines shelter those who pass through the land from the sun. In the shade of one of those pines, he spies a couple wolves and a lion gathered together and the curious young man moves to join them.

Spying the herd of musk ox near-by, he arrives to hear a pale woman ask to join the hunt in return for a cut of the meat. Turning his gaze to the shaggy beasts, he silently offers himself as a body to help. He does not wish for any of the meat since he is well provided for; he is here simply to hone his skill and learn the best strategy to take down such a large beast.


"Malico Mendacium"

He doesn't hear the huntress right away. Her silent movement is masked by the precise steps of her kind. When her silken tones reach his ears, he doesn't startle. One of his ears turns in her direction, gaze still upon the ox. "I suppose since you are here, I won't have to do it alone," his lips muse a smile, but before he can say anything else, a familiar scent reaches him. Turning now to look at the ivory wolf he'd seen before, Ghoul nods at Marrow. "An ox is the goal. I find the terms agreeable," Ghoul responds before his attention is once more directed at a third body. Purple in coat, but silent in voice. A brow is slightly raised toward the other male, but Ghoul nods in response, understanding the want to stay silent. "I've been studying the group for a bit now. They appear to be resilient and unbothered. Taking one down will not be easy," his ruby gaze trains back to the group. of musk ox. Letting out a sigh, he points his nose toward a younger ox that is smaller compared to the other older adults. "That one will probably be easiest," Ghoul lets out a quiet hum as he mulls over tactics and best paths of action. "Us three," his gaze turns to Marrow and the other male, "we can startle the group and cut off the calf," he pauses then and looks to the tigress, "then once it's clear, I'm sure you'll be more than sufficient in taking it down," a brow raised once more, but he waits no longer for their agreement. If they didn't think it was a good idea, they didn't have to help. "Follow me toward the lake so when they scatter, they won't go into the water," Ghoul's head ducks then, moving quietly along the treeline, shaded by the cover. Still watching the herd, he leads the other two wolves in a single file line up and around the clearing until they are aligned with the lakeside. Inhaling a deep breath, Ghoul nods once before bursting from the trees. Rushing toward the herd of musk ox, he release loud and sharp barks in their direction as he skirts through the stampeding masses. Keeping close to the lake as he can, he does his best to block them from the water's edge as he snaps and chases after their hooves.

The thing about wolves, was they hardly ever traveled alone. Two more mutts emerged from the shadows just as the original hunter started speaking. The tigress didn’t acknowledge the newcomers- but she did keep them in her peripheral, should the group decide to attack her instead. It seemed that wolves had a thing for hunting predators. And now that she was outnumbered, she could never be too careful.

Tail flicking behind her, her lips pulling back into a sly, yet charming smirk. A low rumble bellowing inside her, a sound akin to a purr, as she allows the pale wolf to take charge of the group. Selecting their target, assigning roles, and giving the group a command. The male wolf falls effortlessly into a leadership position, which has the mechanics of her mind turning. Interesting. Of course, she’s chosen to be the primary attacker- not surprising, seeing she was far more equipped than these wolves. She’s silent as he leads the other wolves toward the lake, leaving her behind in the shadows of the underbrush. Slinking forward, she takes her place on the opposing side, where the calf will likely run if being chased by three wolves. Now all she has to do, is wait for her prize to come to her.

Crouching down, coiling her strength into her hind end- readying herself to spring out of the shadows, and ensnare their prey by the throat. Azoula watches the male initiate the chase- sending the herd into a panic, and herding them toward her.  

"Speech"

Marrow

Marrow's tail twitched with anticipation, eager to get the show on the road but knowing that such large prey was dangerous. She listened as Ghoul laid out a plan, identifying the target as a smaller ox. The wolves would try and separate the smaller ox from the herd and then drive it toward the tiger to take down. The plan sounded good to her and Marrow nodded her approval.

She slunk down and followed him toward the lake, keeping close to the treeline. Marrow's hind legs bent in preparation to spring and as soon as Ghoul gave the signal she bounded forward. Marrow snarled, joining in with her own barks as she snapped at the oxen. She slipped between two larger ones and headed straight for the smaller one, getting on the opposite side of where their feline friend laid in wait. She snapped at it and at first the oxen didn't seem keen to move, instead lowering its horns and partially charging toward her. She didn't back down, hackles and fur raised as she darted forward, claws lashing out and striking the oxen's nose. It bleated in surprise and stumbled back.

Calmly, Malico joins the group, simply dipping his head in way of greeting when the pink male arches a brow at him, not wishing to distract him from the task at hand. Eyes roam over the gathered group and he allows his gaze linger on the large tigress a moment longer than the others as he suddenly remembers a huge cave lioness that had once saved his life. The pale pink man’s voice pulls the young man from his private musings and he gives his full attention to the leader of this ragtag group.

Roles are assigned and Malico dips his head in a quiet show of acknowledgement as his ears try to catch all the words that are given. It wouldn’t do to miss any of the important imforamtion simply because of his deafness so he focuses on the stranger’s lips to make certain that he catches it all. Then, the trio are off and the purple male hesitates a moment, casting his gaze back to the shadowy tigress to offer her a small smirk and wink as he hopes that, wherever Taiga is, she is doing well.

With that, the trio carefully slink around the herd, keeping low while quietly weaving their way along the tree line in a single-file line. Malico brings up the rear, eyes trained on the pale white yearling in front of him so that, if something happens, he can read their body language and adjust accordingly. Yes, he may have hearing loss but the purple man has learned a few tricks over the years. They arrive at the lakeside and he hunkers down, coiling his muscles for the chase that is ahead of him.

Suddenly, the pink man breaks cover and the pale female and Malico are fast behind him, adding their own barks to the mix in the hopes of confusing and frightening the gathered group of oxen. The beasts stampede, their hooves pounding the earth as they desperately attempt to evade the snapping jaws of the wolves and he works with the other male to push them away from the water’s edge and force them to run away from where the young ox they have chosen as their meal is.

A bleated alarm pulls Mal’s attention to where the pale woman is and he spies the oxen that isn’t listening to her and the young man quickly slips past the thick, furry bodies to where she is. Snapping at the oxen’s face, he forces the creature to turn in the direction that the tigress waits. Darting a glance to the yearling, Mal silently signals his readiness to push the reluctant beast toward the waiting jaws of death.


"Malico Mendacium"

Ghoul focuses on the task at hand. Everything outside of their hunt is a blur to him now. He entrusts the strangers to do their part or fail trying. The yearling he questions, but her skills had been proven to him previously so he doesn't think much on it. With the beasts stampeding around them, Ghoul does his best to shoulder check the larger ones that attempt to cut them off. He's not surprised that the adults are attempting to protect the smaller one, but it would prove fruitless. He watches Marrow begin to cut off the smaller ox, the purple lad not far behind. Kicking up his heels, Ghoul takes the rear and keeps his head lower to the ground. His teeth snap out, clacking loudly, keeping the target on track, heading straight for where the feline is hiding in wait. As long they can get their prize right where she needed it, they would be having a nice, delicious meal in just a few minutes.

The wolves had done a well enough job of causing panic in the herd, which made isolating their target a more daunting task. Still, they’d managed to cut the smaller ox off from its parents, the pale male wolf taking the lead to herd it toward her hiding spot. Watching the panicked creature run in her direction teased that predatory itch inside of her; her whiskers started twitching on her cheeks, ears pinning back as her spiked tongue rolled across the roof of her mouth. Soon, it would be filled with blood.

Gauging the distance between herself and the ox, she waits until the moment is right before she leaps out from the underbrush, flying through the air and slamming directly into the beast with an audible crash! A snarl rippled through her, searing pain igniting across her chest but she does not falter in her attack. Using her claws to anchor herself against the bucking beast, she grabs it by the throat and seeks her fangs in deep. Blood bubbles from the wound, seeping from the corners of her mouth and splattering with each breath she took.

With the combined efforts of the wolves, who she assumed would be working on shoving it to the ground, it was only a matter of time until she suffocated it to death.  

"Azoula Davati"