(Insert Deer Pun Here)
12-06-2020, 05:09 PM
Úlfr took a deep breath of the sweet air before walking into the tall grass off the sweetgrass basin. It was gold and lovely, swaying in the breeze but what was slightly unnerving was how tall the grass was. It stretched up above his shoulders and as he looked out at the horizon all he could see were rows and rows of golden grass. And yet, off in the distance he could see a small herd of deer grazing peacefully in the autumn breeze. Úlfr could smell blood though, and he knew that one of them was injured. If he had to guess it was one of the bucks. Autumn was the season of the rut, at least for whitetail deer. He assumed it was the same with mule deer. Perhaps a pair of the bucks had gotten engaged in battle and one of them was injured and weakened. All he had to do was find the injured animal and then give it a shot.
12-06-2020, 05:43 PM
The scent of blood was always enough to get Hattori's attention. He trotted along at a brisk pace, startling a pair of rabbits as he went, his muzzle horizontal as he breathed in deep lungfuls of air. In and out, as he narrowed in on the scent of interest. All sorts of hoofprints crisscrossed ahead of him, meandering in all sorts of directions, but for the most part this place seemed to be frequented by deer. Of all different sorts and subspecies if his keen sense of smell was to be believed. The wind was blew strong that day, fortunately making his approach all the more easier as it blew behind him, driving his scent away from the deer's nostrils.
He came across the pup who had beaten him to the punch and was already hot on the trail. Given that they were from rival packs-maybe, Venom didn't seem to know what to think of Fireside- it was strange that they often hunted together, but Hattori tended not to take things so personally. He had no issue with Fireside and thus he saw no reason not to hunt with Úlfr, besides they'd already done so before so why stop now? Stepping up behind him, Hattori caught his eye and dipped his head in greeting. They seemed to take turns in leading the hunt and if he recalled correctly it was the Fireside wolf's turn.
12-11-2020, 05:06 PM
Úlfr continued his trek through the basin when movement behind him and off to the side caught his attention. On instinct he ducked down into he grasses. It wasn't uncommon for bears to hunt here and he had no interest in becoming prey today. However, it turned out to be the horned man he'd hunted and fought with several times before. The man nodded in greeting and Úlfr swiftly returned the greeting. He was glad the other man kept silent. Mule deer had particularly keen hearing and they were getting close now.
Úlfr slowly stalked closer to the herd until it was easier to spot the injured deer. The wounded buck was limping heavily, blood trailing down its chest and front left leg where it had been severely gored. Úlfr gestured to his left and then started stalking off to his right. His hope was for them to get on either side of the deer and use their positions to herd it while running it down. Both tactics were meant to help separate the deer from the herd.
He crept forward and then when he felt Hattori was ready he sprang forward toward the buck. The rest of the deer quickly scattered but Úlfr focused on keeping on the right side of their target.
12-12-2020, 12:21 PM
Hattori nodded wordlessly, willing to take the pups lead. It was a little odd allowing a pup to take the reins, but he'd seen his work before and despite his age he had more skill and potential than many wolves the shinobi had come across. They parted ways, Hattori going left and Úlfr right. Skirting the long way around, Hattori took care to watch his steps and stay out of the deer's cone of vision. The going was slower than he would have liked, but given the lack of cover he had to ensure that he didn't spook their prey or else their silent plan would go up in flames before they'd had a chance to spring the trap.
Once close enough, Hattori rolled his shoulders and kicked off into a sprint. The herd parted at the sight of the two approaching wolves, the majority scattering to safety whilst their target remained sandwiched in the middle. with nowhere safe to turn. With his paws thundering against the earth, he was quick to narrow in and twisted to the side, as though to lunge for the deer, In a panic it wheeled to the right, having momentarily forgotten Úlfr guarded that flank, practically delivering itself to the second hunter's awaiting jaws.
12-12-2020, 03:48 PM
Úlfr raced along next to the deer, his feet pounding the earth as he sought to keep up. Thankfully, the more the deer ran the more their target started to fall behind. He watched the buck stumble and soon he pulled along its right side. Startled the buck started to veer to the left but as it did Hattori pulled up along side it and started pushing the deer closer and closer to Úlfr. The deer assumed the young wolf was less of a threat and it jerked its head to the right side as it tried to gore the youth with its horns. Úlfr slowed enough to avoid the horns and as the deer jerked its head to he left side Úlfr leapt up wrapped his arms around the base of the deer's neck, as his fangs dug into the side. The sudden weight pulled the buck to the ground as well as the wolf and Úlfr hoped that Hattori would take the opportunity to move in and make a clean kill.
12-12-2020, 05:12 PM
Hattori slowed as the pup and deer tumbled to the ground. That wasn't how Hattori would have gone about it...but it was effective all the same and thus he couldn't criticise or complain. Swiftly regaining his posture, Hattori ducked in low, careful to avoid the tangle of the deer's horns and lunged for it's muzzle, clamping down and blocking it's airways. The deer kicked and struggled, attempting to swat the wolf away but there was little it could now that it was in Hattori's death grip. His hold remained firm and the mule deer began to weaken, it's movement sloppy as it blinked as though it's eyes weighed all the weight in the world. By the time Hattori released his hold the deer was no longing breathing and the wolves were free to tuck in.