Prey Bandit -closed-

Elias had half expected this to happen- that his own presence would send the other male into a competitive drive to catch up to the sheep faster than Elias could and keep the kill to himself. A dark chuckle nearly escaped his inky lips as he watched this play out, judging the thicker male's footwork and speed as he would attempt to push himself after the bighorn and worker harder than he really needed to. Elias didn't judge the stranger too poorly for this, as he had no real way of knowing what lay in those bushes.

When the stranger moved over to the bushes himself, Elias was nearly prepared to watch a disaster happen- his eyes carefully watching the other's paws as he knew exactly where both of his traps were lying hidden. Vale practically stepped over his first tension trap and Elias slowed down a bit, watching as the two remained on the course he had been hoping for... though now, his heart seemed to race as his adrenaline soared with a bit of concern. If Vale was the one to run into the tension trap before the sheep, that might be a horrible end to their little hunt.. and not exactly the help Elias was hoping to provide.

Elias himself had gotten used to hunting with strangers, having been a lone wolf for the past three years- he had to. If he ever wanted to take down bigger prey, teaming up with other capable bodies he might not necessarily trust had become a part of his life that he just willing accepted. He always parted ways with them after, but... he tried his best not to leave foul impressions. He did enough of that without meaning to, so... hopefully the duo would fall into the next trap correctly and spare him the conflict that would come from Vale running into it himself.

Elias was at a hard trot, keeping himself several wolf lengths behind the other male and bighorn. When he watched the horn of the sheep clip the male, he noticed how little it seemed to phase the brute. It was notable, and something Elias would keep in mind- this one had durability. It wasn't surprising, considering his impressive stature. Elias continued to follow, waiting as they neared the second trap. Vale was struggling to bring the thing down, but once the hoof of the beast clipped the hair-trigger twine, the brambles were sent flying into the beast's side in an instant without any intentions letting go. The thorns embedded themselves into the sheep's inner hip and stomach, though the strength of the beast ripped it from the earth Elias' had laid it on and caused it to drag off to the side as the two continued to run. Blood spilled quite heavily from the deep wounds created by the thorns, as well as the hold Vale was keeping on the thing's back.

Elias was ready, and the bighorn was getting tired. He'd been increasing his base while focusing his breathing to remain steady so that all his energy could be spent in his attacking lunge. He caught up to the dragging bramble trap and stepped on the thornless end of the branch, causing it to rip out of the sheep's side and leave craters behind in the beast's skin. Blood poured with a fervor from the sheep's quickly beating heart, and he was sure the brambles had hit a worthy artery that would leave the thing too weak from blood loss to run in just a matter of seconds. He waited, watching this whole thing play out as Vale never once let go of his hold, and waited for him to finalize the kill before he would attempt to approach the barbaric looking wolf.