Velvette had half promised a postponed hunt. The two of them had been unable to kill the crocodile, but Ra’s energy had not been released. Ve felt the need to a lesser degree, but once the sun was nearing the horizon she almost leapt out of her skin. Under the cover of twilight the two of them would seek out their next target. Slightly less impossible than a giant saltwater crocodile.

She remembered seeing a herd of deer in the trees on the mainland side of the bay. She had been awful jealous of the stag’s antlers and had been wondering if she could figure out a way to wear them herself. They would be a spectacular prize, and later when she amassed a more impressive collection she could hang her newer prizes on the branches of her antler rack.

Velvette looked to her brother, his coat swathed in a brilliant golden mixture of sun and his fur. Ve smiled at him eagerly from her branch, slightly lower and across a large gap from his own. ”There’s a herd of deer. They’ve got antlers right now. I say, whoever gets the smaller rack has to help the one who got the bigger make it into a trophy.” She managed to withhold a smirk, she was going to win this prize. With little time to even hear his agreement or disagreement Velvette dove into the water below. She knew he wasn’t as good of a swimmer as she was, and hoped she’d get a head start on her hunt when she got to the mainland.

Now all the boy could think about, was how neat it would have been to walk away with a crocodile tooth. It really was unfair, that the beast had been in the water. How had they ever been suppose to kill it?

They kept to the trees above the water, already debating their next target. This was home to them, and there was a familiarity to their movements that was like ‘tall’ strolling through their territory. This was life for the Songas. All they needed was a forest of perfect trees, and good prey.

His sis would tell him about a herd of deer she had seen, and he gave her an eager nod, stopping on a branch just above her, hugging it with his paws as he lowered his head down below the branch. “Alright, Vel. lead the way.” he said, eager to take on this new target.

Of course, his sister was already plunging ahead, diving into the water. He wrinkled his nose at that, and took the longer path back, taking to the trees that haphazardly lined the water. It might not be the direct path, but he wasn’t volunteering to get his feet wet.
They would meet up at the same point at the mainland, and he would eagerly follow after his sister.

She couldn’t decide how he got from her little faux island to the mainland without getting wet, seemed she might have to follow him back home. Not that she would be willing to let him see her. Ve shook her coat out as she took back to the branches above them. Ra followed his sister dutifully, but she doubted he realized how serious she was about her game. She tried to half ignore him as she stalked silently through the branches. Her eyes were on the ground, seeking out deer trails and following the tracks of the freshest ones. She needed the antlers off one of those stags.

Gradually Velvette increased her speed, her dark paws traversing the barken landscape before her. Too long passed before her bright eyes caught their first glance of the herd. Twelve deer stood underneath them, just a handful of which possessed the antlers she so desired. She smiled darkly, ready to part the creature from its crown. Ve glanced back at her brother, worried for a moment that he hadn’t seen the creatures yet.

His path was longer, but he got there in quick time, and was able to see Vel shake the water from her coat before she returned to the tree tops. He followed the path she took, keeping just a little above her in the trees, as was his habit.

The youthful wolf, older in body by seconds, but younger in heart by months, was eager for the battle. Just like challenging himself against a crocodile had been a game, so too was this. Vel had already set the stakes, likely to draw him in more completely. Of course, deer seemed a low aim after taking on a crocodile…

His sister picked up her speed, encouraging him to move more recklessly through the treetops. He could almost taste her eagerness, see it in the keen sharpness of her eyes. He might have been a boy, but he was still clever enough to realise he owed her one, maybe just a little… for saving his life. She might have set a challenge, but he would help her take down the biggest deer, and harvest the parts she desired.

He pulled to a stop, this time beside her, with no branch perfectly aligned above. He crouched behind her tail, looking down at their prey. “There… that one has the largest.” likely she had already zeroed in on this one, but he would focus them nonetheless. “If you distract it from the front, i’ll land on him from that tree over there, and go for the neck. I’ll try not to mess up your pretty antlers…” he smirked eagerily at his sister.

Velvette was focused on her quarry more than her brother, though she probably wouldn't have acknowledged his eagerness to aid her if she had. She had grown up watching over her brother, not that either of them would have openly admitted that fact. They made a good team for the most part, with Velvette often having to make the more mature decisions. Like not trying to kill themselves with the crocodile.

She was much too wrapped up in the present to give the past too much thought though, Ve had her sights set on the deer with the most impressive head adornments. Ra found his place next to her, an oddity considering how much he loved to look down on her. He really meant what he said when he formed his own plan. Though he was determined to help Velvette wasn't impressed with his plan. She 'hmm'd at him, obviously not eager to follow his plan.

"I don't think that will work. We have to grab its neck under the chin and not behind the ears. I want its cape too." She peered down at the creature from on high, eyes darting from their quarry to the other creatures in the herd. "I'll rush at it from the front and spook the herd, you come around the back when it darts that way take your turn at its neck." She looked back towards her brother as she finished her edited plan.

Va hmm’d at him, and he flicked an ear at her, tearing his eyes from their prey to glance at his sister. She would then go on to explain how she wanted a cape and adornment. He huffed at her, half playful, half exasperated. Woman. They couldn’t have anything being easy…

He was a very small wolf, even from their kind. It was going to be a jump, to reach its throat from the ground, and the creature twice his side was going to be charging at him in an attempt to flee from his sister…

Actually, this challenge was starting to sound far more interesting. He grinned “I can do that.” was his agreement, tail flicking eagerly behind him. So. he had to take down this prey without damaging any part of the coat she wanted, well on the ground, well it was moving quickly. bring it on

The Barkpaw woman had no problem in assigning a rather challenging task to her brother. He'd been denied his crocodile, Ve had to make things difficult for him somehow. She had faith in him though, even with their small stature the pair of them were formidable. She ignored his minimal attempts at contradicting her, he was going to enjoy working within her parameters if he said so or not.

Velvette glanced at her brother and his enthusiasm in their project. He was going to be able to shed some blood and she was going to get the antlers she craved. He agreed to her terms but paused, waiting on her lead. She grinned eagerly before committing to the plan. With her swift feet she tore over the branches before putting herself in place and leaping to the ground below. Right in front of their quarry.

The stag immediately reared, its eyes growing large at the sudden appearance of a wolf at its feet. Velvette grinned widely before coiling her haunches and leaping at the creatures throat, meaning to tear out the flesh. She missed though, and the great stag turned, hopefully heading right towards Ramesh.

Vel moved like the wind across the branches, scarcely disturbing the foliage she passed, or bough the branches she landed upon. She was like a subtle wind, but as deadly as a storm. She might be a woman, but she was a formidable partner, and had proved time and time again why she was the best person to have at his side.

He didn’t wait around long to watch, he dived through the trees in the opposite direction, going lower and lower until he hugged a branch just above the ground, keeping his form hunkered down and close to the base of the tree. His golden colours blended in well to the browns of the tree, and he would find this the place to wait.

He heard the cry of the stag, and witnessed some of her sisters attack. The creature turned and ran - in his direction. He waited until it was close, almost upon him, then leaped upwards at its throat, exposed its run. Both paws found their way around its throat, hugging to it like a branch as his teeth went for its throat, ripping the skin and finding its jugular. He pulled it free and was immediately coated in blood. He dived free as the creature felled like a tree, hitting the ground hard.

He didn’t clear the scene fast enough and its snout knocked him on the back, and its antlers grazed his butt. He growled silently and hopped a moment to clear the sting, before raising his head and howling his victory.

Velvette retreated from the stag but didn't take her eyes off of it. She removed herself from the path of danger and Ramesh took the lead from her. She rushed it into his direction and he showed his skill. Much more clearly than with the crocodile. Even Ve hadn't seen him until he appeared around the deer's neck. Ve managed not to cry out in joy as the blood poured forth from their quarry.

She rushed to her brother's side, just in time to witness the deer's last revenge as it bucked blindly and hit the golden Songa. Velvette joined her loud brother in song, preferring to take her kills in silence. This event deserved a celebratory howl.

She returned her focus back upon their quarry, it's life had completely fled. Ve said a quick prayer like verse over her quarry before setting to work skinning it. "Work from the bottom." She told her brother, the huge grin on her face all the thanks he was going to get.