Lightning Bug
09-30-2016, 06:05 AM
He didn't mean to be gone for so long, but finding something that he could take down himself and could still feed the two of them would be difficult. He'd passed by a few rabbits on his journey north of the lake in an effort to save his energy for something more substantial, but as he wandered more and more he began to regret his decision. Like Eniko, his thoughts drifted back to times when things had been so much easier. Like when they had a pack to hunt with and ensure that they remained well fed. Knowing now that he had to rely on himself to find their meals worried him slightly, but he was sure that he would get it done. By whatever means.
He wandered until he came across a series of hills. The climate was dry and left the grass yellowed, but he could only imagine the beauty they could hold in the lush of spring. While he was admiring their slopes, it was coming over a hill that he encountered a small herd of bighorn sheep and he immediately dropped his body so that he would not be noticed. Dancing with them alone was one of the last things he wanted to do, knowing well that the horns that they carried were not just for show, but the appetizing look of the lambs within the herd made him unable to change course. He needed to try.
He watched them there through blades of grass and studied what each of them were doing. So far he could only identify ewes, but it was hard to tell since all of them carried horns regardless of sex. The lot of them were resting, though there was one grazing mother hovering dangerously close to him with her lamb. He kept his eyes on her and waited for the other ewes around her to distance themselves, one by one they were returning to the bulk of the herd until it came time for the closest mother to return as well. She lifted her head and flicked an ear and for a moment he thought he'd been spotted. He held his breath and lowered his head, remaining as quiet as possible until she turned and began to walk back to the herd, her lamb toddling around for a moment.
It was that moment that Phantom emerged from hiding and took off down the hill at full speed. His jowls swung wide and he knew he didn't have much time before the mother would turn around, the bleats of the lamb already alerting her. He didn't have time to kill the lamb, only to grab it and pick it up with all his strength and run. He could feel his grip slipping around the lamb in his haste and he was forced to slow down and readjust it in his mouth, it's kicking limbs making that quite difficult. He heard the pounding of hooves draw closer and closer to him and he could only imagine that the mother was charging his way. He picked up the lamb again and started to run, but the mother managed to clip his tail with a force that made his ears shoot down. He'd managed to avoid the charge, and his tail would be fine but he could tell that if that had been his hips, he would not be able to stand and run quick enough to get away with the lamb.
He continued the chase for some time, carrying the lamb and pushing the limits of his stamina until finally the mother gave up and returned to the herd before he led her too far out away from them. He slowed and eventually stopped and dropped the lamb that was now in shock, setting a heavy paw on it as his chest heaved quickly in a series of hard pants. He watched until the mother was out of sight and then lowered his head and ended the life of the lamb, then laid beside it long enough to regain his strength. That had been a vigorous chase and he could barely believe that he made it out without injury, and all for a little lamb that would barely keep them fed. He sighed at the thought and forced himself to lift to his feet and pick up their meal. At least they would eat and not starve.
He was nearing the lake when he smelled the scent of a stranger, and it wasn't long before he saw her. His hackles prickled as he worried for Eniko out of reaction, but he then noticed the prince, as well. He dropped the lamb and looked between the two of them, noting that there was no hostility but now instead of worry there was a bit of jealousy that washed over the shepherd, not that he'd ever let it show. He twitched an ear, "What is this?" The correct question would have been who is this, but given his current state.. he was prone to error.