In the vast expanse of Polar Sound, where winter's icy grasp held strong, Aresenn moved with deliberate grace. His fur coat, a deep shade of crimson, stood out starkly against the blanket of white. With calculated steps, he led the Syndicate hunters through the frozen landscape towards a strategic vantage point. The snow crunched softly under each pawstep as the small group moved in determined silence. Their breaths came out in visible puffs in the frigid air, but their focus remained true. As they reached their designated observation spot, Aresenn gestured for them to gather closer, his unwavering gaze fixed on the valley below where a herd of elk grazed peacefully.

"Aresenn Praetor"

"Eternally hungry," Kai whispered as she walked past Aresenn to settle down in the snow. Another meeting about hunting? There was no other reason for it other than he was hungry. Didn't he have a Sidi to feed him? Mint and ice eyes scanned the big brute. He didn't look thin or malnourished. Did he fancy himself a teacher then? Better him than her. Kaino would be the worst teacher. Everything that came out of her mouth would be an underhanded insult, an innuendo or an underhanded innuendo. No... not teacher material at all.

"Kaino Saxe"

It seems that Aresenn has been tasked with helping the hunters of the pack stay sharp and Zeke doesn’t hesitate to trail along. They move quietly across the snow, small puffs of frigid air swirling in front of the wolves as they move. At a gesture from their red teacher, the dark male moves closer, ears swiveling to pick up the soft words he might offer while his duel-toned eyes travel down to the elk below, excitement building with second as the large animals graze peacefully below. Do they have any idea thar doom waits above them or are they really that oblivious to the gathering danger above them? A wicked grin splits the man’s maw as he waits and listens.

"Ely & Ezekiel"

The crowned Emir led the group to a different location this time, not wanting them to gather before him like teacher's pets but instead, as allies ready to indulge in a hunt. They’d found a vantage point above the valley, the backdrop of ivory all-consuming, but it aided them in finding the herd of elk that was grazing in the valley below. Their large, brown frames stood out against the canvas of snow - so did Azoula’s, but that wasn’t a concern to her - which made them easy targets for the group of predators stalking from above.

Shifting her bright, volcanic eyes towards Aresenn, she studies him with an air of expectancy; one of her brows cocking, her lips pulling back into an inquisitive smirk, as she waits to hear his instructions.

"Speech"

More lessons. More fucking lessons. Did they ever end? Fuck it, she'll just have to convince them that she doesn't need them. Iscariot's mood as bleak as the weather, but she'd heed the call regardless. Every time she's dragged out in the cold, it gets worse. Stinging her paws, her ears, her nose. Shivering to herself as she moves to the call. Arsenn, again. Iscariot's gaze is steady, unblinking as she approaches. Chilly, but then, so is she. Taking a seat wordlessly next to Kaino. The only refuge from the chill, and the only comfort that she feels safe enough to seek. Okay, she's a pretty good windbreak too.

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As the hunters gathered around him, Aresenn's gaze swept over the valley below where the elk grazed, his mind focused on the lesson ahead. "Today, we will learn about reading prey behavior, particularly in winter," he began, his voice carrying a commanding tone despite the softness of his words. "In this season, prey animals behave differently due to the harsh conditions and scarcity of food."

He gestured towards the elk below, pointing out their behavior. "Notice how they are grazing close together, conserving energy and staying vigilant for predators. In winter, prey animals are more cautious, as the snow makes it harder for them to detect predators and escape." Aresenn paused, letting his words sink in before continuing. "They also tend to follow predictable patterns, such as sticking to familiar routes and areas where food is more abundant. As predators, it is our job to understand these patterns and use them to our advantage."

"Aresenn Praetor"

Aresenn explained the different behaviors that a prey animal might take on during the harsh winter months. This place always felt wintery. Every month of the year it was chilly in the Sound. Good thing Kaino didn't mind the cold, but her poor sister... Riot froze in this place. Kai imagined the smaller of the elk herd felt the cold more than the larger as well.

Everyone's gaze flitted down to the herd. They were most likely trying to pick out similarities between the herd and Aresenns examples from the group of ungulates. Kai was getting rather hungry just staring at the walking snacks down below.

"Kaino Saxe"

Prey behavior. Iscariot leans forward with interest, listening as Aresenn goes over the basics. It makes sense that they'll behave differently in winter-- Riot does too. They huddle closely together, remain tucked tight and vigilant. Though their behavior was the same every year, she's at a disadvantage here. She doesn't know these herds, she doesn't know from whence they've come. Iscariot is careful as she listens, careful as she considers where they'd go from here. Peering down over the edge, she's with Kai on this one-- the elk are looking mighty tasty, even as she turns the lesson over in her head. Learning is making Riot hungry, sorry.

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Staring down at the herd below, Azoula was expecting Aresenn to instruct them about working as a group to hunt their prey. But instead, he went a different route in his teachings, focusing on studying the behaviors of the herd. Interesting. Her gaze shifts to him, but only for a second; she’s studying the subtleties in his body language, sizing him up as prey, before she turns back to the herd.

Leaning forward, she studies the behavior of the herd for several minutes. Aresenn was right, they were huddled close together, grazing but vigilant and on high alert. The elk on the outskirts seemed to rotate with the ones in the middle, having to stand watch while the others grazed. “Most of the cows will be pregnant this time of year.” She voices aloud, adding her own input to Aresenn’s teachings. That made them easier targets, once they were isolated; but that also made them harder to isolate, because the herd was even more protective of them.

"Speech"

The predators stand on the lip, looking down into a valley where the elk graze seemingly without a care. Aresenn’s words pull Zeke’s attention to him and he considers the wisdom in this lesson. Duel-toned eyes move back down to the herd and he watchs the way they share the sparse grass that peeks up through the snow. Azoula words have him nodding in agreement as he softly says, “Even though they seem to be grazing peacefully, they also appear to be on high alert. They are constantly moving, rotating in toward where the grass is to allow each one time to eat.”

An older elk with a slight limp in his gait catches the man’s attention and he lifts a paw to point it out as he adds, “That one seems to hurt and the others are not as keen to allow him to graze. Might be easier to separate it from the herd since they will be more focused on protecting the pregnant females.” Really, Ezekiel is just spit-balling ideas here but it seems local to him.


"Ely & Ezekiel"

Aresenn listened as his pack members shared their observations and insights, nodding in acknowledgment of their keen observations. "Excellent observations," he began, his voice carrying a note of approval. "In winter, prey animals, especially elk, are more vulnerable due to the harsh conditions and the need to conserve energy for the coming months." He gestured towards the older elk with a limp, acknowledging Zeke's observation. "Targeting the weaker or injured members of the herd can indeed be a strategic move, as they are often left behind or separated from the group," he explained. "However, it requires careful planning and execution, as the herd is always on high alert to protect its members."

Turning his attention back to the group, Aresenn continued, "Understanding the behavior of prey animals is crucial for a successful hunt. By studying their movements and patterns, we can anticipate their actions and increase our chances of a successful hunt. Remember, patience and observation are key in hunting, especially in winter when prey animals are more cautious." With that, Aresenn fell silent, allowing the hunters to absorb his teachings and apply them to their hunting strategies in the future.

"Aresenn Praetor"

Silver and smoke ears shifted, catching the words of the group as they spoke, sharing little tidbits of information as they became absorbed in the lesson. The others spoke of injured elk and whatnot, but Kaino's attention was stuck on the elk themselves. She cast a sidelong look at Riot and grinned. "Hungry?" Using their newfound brain tickling, they could go down below and bring at least one of those very elk home for dinner. The pair of huntresses would have little problem in doing so. What they lacked in size, they made up for in brains.

"Thanks for the lesson, Aresenn," Kai smirked before cutting away from the group and picking her way down the edge of the sound towards the ungulates below. As discussed, she used the terrain to her advantage as she descended, was careful to be extra stealthy and considered the different behaviors of her intended prey due to the snow.

"Kaino Saxe"

Newcomer in this place, it would take all she could manage to learn the land. Learn the prey. Learn their habits. The sooner she could learn the habits of the prey, she could learn the habits of the natives. The sooner she could learn the habits of the natives, the sooner she can track them just like any other rat in the brush. Right, she'll try to focus through this lesson. As Aresenn concludes, Riot is grateful for Kai's stronger social graces. Hovering close to her sister, offering a little nod to echo her sentiment. Kaino is, at least, on the same page. A nod in response to her question, hanging close to the taller girl's shoulder. "There's a sickly calf on the far side, see the wobbly legs?" A whisper back to her sister, gaze low to the ground. It's not hard, given her height. While the calf's body was obscured from view, Iscariot had seen the thing wobble and nearly go down twice already. Even if the herd went running, there was no way this one could keep up. Looks like lunch, as they pick their way down the rocky slope. Careful to keep themselves concealed, working in tandem. They'd put the new lesson to use.

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Aresenn would acknowledge each of their observations, adding his own thoughts on the matter shortly after. The elk herd operated differently in the winter season; it was weaker, made up of pregnant cows and starving elders. The cold made existing injuries hurt more, and geriatric conditions flare. Many of their targets this season wouldn’t be the young bulls protecting the herd. Why would they work harder for the same result? Aresenn was smart to make that clear. Azoula nodded to him in agreement.

Kaino was eager to pursue the elk herd, and even nudged her sister to join her. Azoula would watch from above, enjoying the vantage point Aresenn had shown them. If the girls needed her help, she’d go down and join them. But for now, she’d speculate from afar.

"Azoula Davati"

Duel-toned eyes linger on the herd of carefree elk down below the group, Zeke’s ears swiveling backward to pull in Aresenn’s words as he speaks. The fiery man makes wise points and he dips his head in silent agreement, watching the way the herd rotates and moves. Nostrils flare and expel steam as the teacher speaks of planning and execution to bring down such large animals and he works up a quick, fanciful one involving the gathered wolves.

The talk moves to the behavior of the animals and Ezekiel carefully watches the slow purposeful movements of the herd. Aresenn falls silent and the dark man blinks, pulling himself from the wonderfully delicious thoughts that had run rampant in his gray matter. Everyone breaks off, the two female wolves moving toward the herd while the tigress, Aresenn, and Zeke remain up above. For the time, he remains there, watching the way they work together and learning their strengths as hunters.


"Ely & Ezekiel"