Mrs Moosefeathers [Hunt!]

He was hot on the trail of a small herd of deer. However, as he veered into the estuary, he crossed the scent of something much more appealing. Moose. By her scent, she was an elderly cow, past the age of bearing calves. She smelled relatively healthy, but the uneven tracks, weight resting deeply into the right foreleg and left hind track, while the other two legs were lightly marked, suggested her age was getting to her. Arthritis, maybe, or perhaps she’d taken a bad step somewhere and badly pulled either leg.

A moose would be a great kill to bring in to dry and store, with a sizable hide for crafting with, not to mention all the sinew, bones, hooves, and stomach. She was a hobbling crafter’s dream. She was alone, but he wasn’t dumb enough to take a moose on his own. He’d learned well that Moose were a teamwork prey animal.

Still, he pressed forward stealthily, wanting to get an eye on the moose and familiarize himself with her appearance and scent before he went about gathering a hunting group.

Eventually, after twenty minutes or so of slinking after her trail, he spotted her, browsing on the wetland foliage. The knee of the left foreleg, the one she’d barely put weight into, was huge and knobby in comparison with the other, which had more muscle as though she’d been walking like this for a long time, supporting the weight there as she went while the left leg was slimmer and visibly weak. Arthritis creaked in her bones, and while her coat was sleek, she moved carefully.

Her right hind leg was tender as well, and the moose was visibly reluctant to put weight on it, wobbling and hobbling between each bad leg with each step to a new spot of browse. Healthy or not, it would be a mercy kill. The moose would be put to rest, and the wolves would get food and crafting supplies to last for a good while.

Cairo’s eyes swept the surroundings beyond the moose, studying possible angles for at least four to come in at, strategizing while he had the advantage of being downwind of the moose. Glancing up at the trees and foliage, he made a note of the location, as it seemed she was settling in for a snack and a rest, and faded back the way he’d come, tipping his head back to call for the Hunt Circle once he’d reached the wall.

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