it's cold as shit, but what else is new? Spider hums a jaunty, meandering tune under their breath as they plod through the snow-laden ground, weaving between tree trunks and savouring the scent of pine in the air. the sky is a pale yellow shot through with hints of pink, slowly lightening as dawn transitions to day. it's pretty, and they're gazing admiringly into the distance when a black shape swoops overhead and cuts across their field of vision with an abrasive squawk. "what is it, Doom?" they mutter, brushing his wings aside. the raven huffs and alights on their shoulder, clicking his beak in impatient chatter. Spider straightens, all their previous nonchalance melting away in a practiced hunting stance. "a horned creature? where?"

following the bird's directions, they're soon able to spot a smooth, brown hide and a pair of tall antlers. stepping lightly, they creep closer and part their mouth, letting the scent bathe their tongue. buck - and a rather young one, by the look of it. a young adult, perhaps, stretching its legs as it relishes its new freedom. Spider smirks to themselves and hunkers down behind a tree trunk, trying to keep their dark pelt from view. a pity, really, but the pack has to eat.

"Speech"

Snow crunched beneath her paws as she moved with calculated grace. Rakia’s icy blue eyes fixed on a peculiar individual as they were stealthily creeping towards the young buck. The stranger was a new scent, a mixture of pine resin and damp earth that stood out against the familiar frosty aroma of the snow. Intrigued, she moved aside, her grey fur blending seamlessly with the surrounding vegetation, her lean figure barely making an imprint in the fresh layer of snow.

Watching attentively, Rakia observed as the stranger went into a predatory crouch, their eyes focused on their prey. There was a certain grace to their movements: smooth and yet full of latent power. She admired that, she had to admit. The buck lifted its head from grazing, hazel eyes wide and alert as it sensed danger nearby. It was yet too inexperienced to pinpoint the source, however. Entirely unaware of the stranger creeping closer, it pranced a few steps forward, hooves leaving deep imprints in the snow.

Rakia flinched instinctively. The snow around her seemed to quieten as if holding its breath in anticipation. She felt the chill creeping up her spine, her senses heightened, heart pounding with a mix of anticipation and excitement. It was an odd sensation – watching another claim their kill. And she could no longer stand to just sit and observe on the sidelines. With a low growl rumbling through her chest, Rakia pushed herself off the frozen terrain, snowflakes twining in her fur as she moved to close the distance. Her agile form covered ground silently with very little effort on her behalf. And once she moved into place to provide support for the stranger and their kill, she waited for them to make the first move.

"Rakia Perreau"

a low growl draws their attention, and Spider’s gaze alights on a young woman moving daintily through the snow, exuding elegance with every step. it takes a matter of moments for the heir to understand, and they incline their head in welcome, quietly pleased for the assistance. “Spider,” they offer, the word scarcely a whisper. they watch the woman expectantly, hoping she’s understood it for a name and waiting momentarily to see if she’ll offer her own. then they turn their attention back to their quarry, eyes narrowing in thought. the buck seems young, inexperienced - and hopefully, prone to panic. if they sneak up on it and trap it between them…

decision made, Spider glances back at their companion and nods to the right. then, assuming the woman has no objections, they begin making a wide, cautious arc around the buck’s left side, inching incrementally closer with each step.

"Speech"

She caught the low whisper of a name 'Spider' - her ears perked instinctively at the sound. She gave a curt nod, acknowledging the stranger's introduction. In a voice gentle as a summer's breeze, she responded, "Rakia." The name lingered in the icy air for a moment before being swallowed by the pure silence of the plains. Her gaze followed Spider's careful movements, Ice-blue eyes traced the wide arc that they began to carve into the snowy landscape. A silent agreement passed between them as Rakia mirrored their movement on the opposite side, her eyes never leaving the young buck.

The plains seemed to hold its collective breath as the two predators closed in on their unsuspecting prey. Rakia flexed her paws against the cold ground beneath her, feeling the crunch of untouched snow under her weight. Goosebumps prickled across her fur, a silent testament to the adrenaline surging within her veins.

The buck -- ears flicking, nostrils flaring -- had sensed something amiss. Its eyes darted between the clusters of pine trees and the shrubbery, yet it was unable to identify the source of its discomfort. The wind blowing from behind them masked their scents, allowing for a perfect ambush.

"Rakia Perreau"

the buck grows nervous the closer they approach, its head swinging from left to right in a futile attempt to track their movements. tossing their companion a glance, Spider notes the careful way Rakia moves through the undergrowth, making an identical circuit to the buck's right. they draw closer with every moment, slowly pinning their prey between them while it paws agitatedly at the snow. Spider is cautious, waiting until the last possible second to reveal themselves. inexperienced or not, getting in the way of those sharp hooves wouldn't be a good idea.

when they can put it off no longer, Spider seeks out Rakia's gaze and attempts to meet it, hoping to offer a single nod. then they burst from their cover, paws flying across the snow as they lunge for the buck. assuming their companion does the same, they should be able to close in on both sides and silence the creature before it even gets a chance to comprehend its demise. more humane that way, anyway.

"Speech"

Her heart pounded with the intensity of an oncoming storm, echoing the silent drumming of the frozen landscape. The moment Spider lunged — a blurred silhouette against the pristine whiteness — Rakia followed suit. Her muscles coiled and sprang as she lept through the snow, her fur standing on end from the thrill. The world seemed to still around her, trapping her in this singular moment of life and death.

The sudden burst of movement startled the buck, its already wide eyes growing wider. But it was too late for escape. Surrounded on both sides by danger, it stumbled over its own legs, flailing in panicked desperation. Rakia descended upon it swiftly, her body colliding with the buck's in a flurry of snow and fur. They tumbled together, a ball of chaos, until finally, Rakia managed to clamp her jaws on the creature's throat, effectively ending its struggle.

The rush of the kill hung in Rakia's veins long after the buck's heart had ceased its frantic beating. She drew away slowly, breath misting in the frigid air. Gods, what a thrill.

"Rakia Perreau"