Autumnal Bounty [Valhalla Pack Hunt]

Cairo perked his head up as is mentor and leader’s how reached his ears. A hunt! If he was right, this was the first of her new custom of hunting large game beyond the wall, and his heart thrilled with excitement. His mind raced as fast as his paws as he dashed toward her howl. He might have gotten there first if a thought hadn’t occurred to him that brought him skidding to a stop.

Had they brought anything to carry the kill with? It wasn’t that far from the territory, but what if she was leading them far from Valhalla? What if she even led them east?

Decision made in the blink of an eye, Cairo whipped around and went bolting to the cave system that his cousin resided in with her family. He nearly crashed into a huge red shape, yipping in surprise as his claws scraped the stone and he found himself nose to nose and staring into the deep sapphire eyes of Regulus Adravendi. He was surprised, but kind of pleased when the great, aged male smiled at him and stepped aside, nodding to the pile of hides and long shaved saplings.

Paladin looked up from the herbs and smiled before he ducked his face into the crook of his foreleg to cough. It was a rattly, phlegmy thing, and Cairo gave him a sympathetic look. Paladin surprised him by saying, “I’ll come with for this. Kyode and Ime made me this mask. It won’t work for long stretches of time, but I’ll be hanging back to care for anyone injured. If we’re lucky, this won’t turn into a healing lesson on how to stop arterial bleeding or suture gut wounds shut.”

The great red male ambled over and bent, and Cairo realized the old man was offering his back for the harnesses and hides that would carry the equipment for travois’ and saddlebags. Two aging mountain lions stalked forward and took their share of the supplies while the two primates strapped Paladin with two bulging bags of herbs, poultices, bone needles, salves, and many other things Cairo didn’t get a good look at.

He felt a sting of envy as he looked at the companions of the two males. One day, he hoped he would have friends like those—always at his side. It was with a nod from Regulus, and an encouraging smile that Cairo led the way out of the dens, though he caught the longing, sad glance Regulus shot toward the alcove he shared with his mate. Cairo knew Solveiga was ill. He knew it was bad, by the grim glance Paladin threw in the same direction. Regret and resignation. There was no cure.

It was this whole trip, plus leading an ol male who needed to stop from time to time, that made the trio some of the last to arrive. Regulus was old, older than he should have been, in some ways. Aurielle had often said that her father and she came from a bloodline that had been known to carry longevity. But life didn’t always foster a long life.

He looked around as he arrived outside the wall, eyes going first to Aurielle as he said, “Sorry I’m so late—but we brought supplies to carry the kill home.” He nodded his muzzle toward his own back and to Paladin and Regulus, grinning as he moved to nuzzle his little sister on the shoulder, smiling at Geoff and Artur.

Almost everyone was there, though he noted a couple who were yet to arrive. Eyes turning back to Aurielle, he waited to hear her plans.

Walk ---- "Speak" ---- "Hear" ---- Think