OOC: Round two here we go! Same rules apply!

It was time. The trap was in position and there was nothing left to do but get a move on, to rush over the hill as one mass of claws and teeth. He pulled in a deep breath, making sure the children were at the back of the cluster before he offered one last nod to the group. As though to affirm he trusted them to pull their weight, to work as a cog in a well oiled machine. He rolled his shoulders, testing out his muscles one last time before he kicked off into a sprint, talons ripping into the snow as he lead the charge. He made no attempt to conceal himself, he wanted to spook the herd to get them anxious and twitchy and this surprise attack would at the very least get their hearts racing. Hattori had no qualms that it would take a little more than usual to get them running, such massive creatures they were, but the element of surprise truly worked in their favour.

One of the creatures lingering on the fringes of the group was quick to let out a trumpet of alarm, it stomped its feet as though that would be enough to ward off the encroaching group but stilled in an obvious sense of panic when it's hazel eyes darted from wolf from to the other. They were coming and they were coming fast!

Kuroki was quick to act all sheepish when his Ma stopped his mischief with a gentle touch to his shoulder. She did not kick up a fuss or scold him in the same way his Sire would, it was calm and gentle, and Kuroki was quick to fall back into line. Mostly. Instead he found himself being nudged to the back of the group, falling in line behind the adults and elders who knew a whole lot more about hunting than he did. His ear flicked in a show of frustration, he wanted to complain and see if he could worm his way back to the front but the formation the others fell into was tight. He wouldn't be able to wiggle in without someone noticing.

He let out a huffy breath, the fog clouding from his lips as he bounced on his paws. And then the group was off, flying over the snow as one with thundering paws and racing hearts. The little Prince felt as though he was soaring, floating over the ground ran as fast as his little legs would allow. He was giving it all, was determined to be the fastest pup around. Except that his Father's akita slowed as it ran by his side, telling him in his native language to slow it down and pace himself before it pulled back up to run at the front alongside his master. It seemed as though this would be more of a matter of stamina, well okay. Maybe that could be fun.

He looked up and saw the looming group of brown behemoths, shifting nervously as though they weren't entirely sure how to react. If any pack could make them run for the hills it'd be Ashen!

Venom gave Kuroki an approving smile as he calmed at her touch and got into place with the rest of the puppies. There were too many eyes on him for the boy to misbehave too badly, and she had confidence in their mission and plan, none of her children would come to harm. She watched them take their place before positioning herself at Hattori’s shoulder, eager to move forward with such an incredible feat. Taking one of the giant beasts would be a momentous occasion, something the Empire would profit from for a very long time.

The Empress lifted her head to its full height, arching her neck as her paws carried her effortlessly through the snow. The massive beasts would be difficult to herd, but their pack was formidable. She’d seen the massive dire wolves and knew her clan couldn’t reach their heights. Still, their forcity and determination would not be matched. Venom threw back her head as the first began to waver, and allowed a harrowing cry to erupt from her dark lips. The message was both a rallying cry to the wolves behind the alpha pair and the massive beasts they threatened.

With the trap now in place and back with the hunting group, Hela was ready to start. Placing herself just behind the rest with excitement building on her chest. Licking her uper lip with an smirk she was seeing the show coming and she was going to be part of it just like her two kids who alos joined. There after some time of waiting Hattoris giving them one last nod began to run toward the creatures and without waiting she ran after him and her niece. Ears pinned as she attempted to get herself to the side wanting to help here them to the trap.

Panic was also eager to start the chase, to make mischief here and there. But of course they wouldn't be taken in consideration. Pups weren't allowed to participate in anything fun. How would they learn of they weren't given a chance? And Panic herself felt angry, upset. And they started the run, going after the bests, aiming to drive one to the trap and as Kuroki ran she followed, aiming to not being left behind, in the back of everything. Happy she went trying to not being too fast but neither too slow. Harmony seemed best in this case. Fear her snake tried to hold tight to avoid falling on the race.

Pleased with the work that he, Lament, and Hela had done to lay the traps that would hopefully tip the balance in their favor during the hunt, he rejoined the group as they took their place at the top of the hill. He rolled his shoulders and stretched as they prepared to make their charge and took a moment just to make sure he had an eye on the pups in the group to keep track of where they were before the real hunt began. Finding his place just behind Venom and Hattori, he waited for them to make the first move and then charged forward, moving together with the group as they moved as one. It was exhilarating to be working together with the pack like this and he wore a grin as they drew closer and closer to their target. The beast in question clearly wouldn't spook easily as it stomped and bellowed in protest, but he wasn't discouraged just yet. He started to shift toward the edge of the group, beginning to lead a portion of them to cut off the one they wished to hunt from the rest of its heard and start driving it toward the traps they had laid. Plague | Viridis | Procella

Bumping her shoulder against Kitsune as their parents led the charge little Shuriken did her best to keep up. Some of the bigger pups were already racing ahead while the tiny princess did well just to stay with the hunting party. While her focus was on her errant paws Ike did catch glimpses of the giant beasts from the corner of her eye. Her father made her feel so tiny, but this was another scenario all together. She didn’t realize what a momentous occasion she was baring witness to. Supportive role or not.

When she heard her mother’s howl Kiyohime joined along, having to stop her assault while she did so lest she trip and fall. No, Ike could not walk and talk at the same time. Excitement brew in her chest as her little voice lifted to the sky. All too soon her song ended and the tiny child raced off again, trying to keep up with the other puppies.

"Speech"

Malachai felt like was towering over the rest of the group, even his own sister who was his own age hardly rivaled his size even as young as he was... it honestly flooded the boy with some embarrassment, he resented being treated like the new little royalty, too precious to let get dirty or look bad, he wasn't some precious little prince who needed protection from himself. The boy tried everything he could to avoid letting his resentment show too much as he stood among the smaller pups.

The trap was set and the group would start their approach, breaking into a run, and it turned out it was quite difficult to not outpace the other pups, his long limbs carrying him forward at a quicker pace without much need for exertion, so he alternated between running and slowing into a sort of trot. His cousin would release a call, and the boy lifted his own voice into the warcry, a sort of ferocity and hunger obvious in his tone, something that spoke of his frustration and his desire to leap into the fray.

Art by Skelle!

Himself, Hela, and Plague worked well as a team. Each had offered up a piece of advice, and together it evolved into a plan. Sneak, dig, and guard. The spikes were laid, and they made their way back to the group with the Mammoths unaware.

He stood silent and still as he waited for his Shogun to begin the hunt, and once the koi-wolf had, the group began to move as one. When his Empress howled, he let his voice join with hers. They were coming! The Mammoths better beware.

They raced across the prairie as a joined force that even the colossal beasts before them should be frightened of.


"Speech"

wow she had never felt more alive, more a part of something. The waiting was torture, and it was hard not to fiddle, even as she admired the wolves surrounding her. They were, in comparison to herself, giants. The call was given, and they were running. She kept close to Ike, she would never let her little sister out of her sight in something like this. She was always tripping and falling - she wouldn’t let that happen today. She kept close to the other girl.

When her sister stopped to howl, Kit did the same. Her paws stilling, her head tossed high in the sky. She felt on top of the world! And then the two of them were running again.

"Speech"

The group moved as one, filling the air with a cacophony of howls and snarls. Announcing their intent for all to hear loud and clear, regardless of the language barriers the beasts had no choice but to make a snap choice.  Either stand their ground or flee, as Hattori raced ahead he wondered which option they would chose. Whether it would spell their doom or the wolves of Ashen would return home empty-pawed. He did not linger on the what ifs for long, he simply could not afford too as the pack drew in close, the beasts shadows darkening their forms. And then the ground began to shake beneath his paws, rumbling and thudding as the domino effect swiftly came into play. A flightier beast on the fringes panicked and began to flee, that caused another and then another till the whole group was on the move.

Ignoring the larger, more experienced beasts, Hattori swerved to the side as he eyed the group, looking for one who might panic even more if singled out. One they'd be able to cut off without too much effort, hopefully. As if on cue a female, slightly smaller than the bulk of the group made an almost deafening sound of alarm when she deemed that Hattori got too close. She seemed to be about full grown but lacked the nerve and solid experience of an elder,  if they cut her off she'd just run and run, mindlessly without much thought other than trying to escape. The perfect candidate if Hattori had ever seen one.

Hattori let out a rare but sharp bark as if to say this one. And so the chase began in earnest.

Kuroki's voice joined the others as they bellowed, only just managing not to break his stride as he ran along with his head raised and eyes closed. His sire was quick to chose out a target and...well at first he wasn't sure what made it so special. Wouldn't any old beast do? Why did it have to be her? Except as the tide of Ashen wolves swept in it was clear she had no idea what she was doing, she kinda reminded Kuroki of the time he'd been caught rummaging through the stores, eyes wide and face muscles taut. She knew she was in deep trouble but just didn't know what to do about it, not in the same way the other beasts seemed to. They rumbled away, massive feet pounding the earth, not yet realising the grave mistake their fellow member was making. Their loss Ashen's gain.

Letting out an excitable bark, Kuroki glanced to his sides and grinned at his sisters. Sure, it was a little bit unfair they weren't allowed to get down and dirty but this was still pretty dang exciting. Better than sitting around and listening to stories all day, that's for sure!

Hela kept running after Hattori,eyes in focuse in the hunt, leaving any distracting thouhts out. When she was into something nothing could get her away from it until it was completed. She was dying to do the dirty work,but she was smart enough to know when it was possible and when it was not. And like that, she retained the need,she managed to supress it so now only complete focuse on doing this fine took over. Hattori picked a target,a rather naive one. Perfect. Nodding, she attempted to help by running after the target,but keeping her pace away from over running the Shogun. But doing so in the opposite side,wanting to close the escape route. "Talk"

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Panic ran and ran, as fast as her legs could get her, Fear was still fighting against the gravity. A fall at this speed could be dangerous and the viper was in no way willing to getting stunned among the running wolves. Panic had her eyes traveling from her mother to her brother and back and forth as she wanted to be sure she wouldn't miss them. She heard Hattori's command and fixing her blue gaze into the target she ran after it alongside the rest of paws, tail tall for balance as this was her first real hunt and a beast unlike any other they had ever seen.

Quickly she ran, ready to help in any way that the adults would be allowed her to of course.

"Speech"

As the pack fell into their stride Venom couldn’t be more pleased with the cohesive nature of the hunting group. You never knew how a group might perform until they were under pressure, and this was one of the highest pressures the world could offer. Some of the most massive beasts to roam Boreas, and the Ashen Empire would take one for their own. Hattori didn’t take long to decide on their ultimate target, a young female by the looks of things. Not the biggest, but larger by far than any animal Ashen had ever taken.

She was most proud of her children, despite the attitude at their place all of the younger members of Ashen fell into line and took their places. There wasn’t anymore complaint and they accepted their place and did their duty. They howled in unison with her and before long the herd was beginning to move. Hela broke off to further separate the massive beast from her herd and Venom followed after her to assist.

Kiyohime was encouraged and relieved at her sweet sister’s determination to remain at her side. Knowing her sibling would be there to help catch her, not if but when, her paws tangled up underneath her was incredible. She would always have someone to lean on, someone that she knew she could count on to be there to help pick her up, as she showed her every day and not just during a once in a lifetime opportunity like this. Of course Ike knew that she had many family members and siblings to look out for her and they certainly did, but Kitsune was strong and reliable and always there for her. No matter what.

The pack ran on, and Shuriken heard Kit’s voice join with hers as the puppies did their best to help spook the behemoths into moving. Eventually their father decided on a target and the princess’s little mismatched paws would bring her forward to help run the beast into their trap.

"Speech"

There was admittedly something exhilarating about running with the pack like this. Though he still had to remain vigilant of his own position, allowing himself to pull back from the other pups so he wasn't overtaking them all. The Shogun seemed to hone in on a young female, working to seperate her off of the now running herd. The boy picked up his pace slightly, watching closely as the adults mover forward, and his mismatched gaze swung towards the herd, they were to hang back and avoid getting to close, but he veered slightly, wondering idly if other pups might join him, he moved away from the female they were chasing from the herd, staying far enough back no one could complain he was playing hero but clearly having made a snap decision and made to continue chasing the herd, hoping to force them further away from the female they were seperating. He kept glancing at the rest of the group, making sure he was still keeping behind the adults to allow some to run in and come in front of him.

Art by Skelle!

Plague fell easily into the ebb and flow of the wolves of the pack as they worked their way to and around the massive beasts, eventually forcing them to start stampeding to get away from the howling, snarling pack. His gaze darted toward Hattori when the leader of their hunt picked one in particular for them to focus their efforts on. He hurried forward to assist, keeping an eye on Hela and Venom as they moved toward the opposite side to start leading the female away form the rest of the herd. He rounded out the trio that could push the unnamed creature toward the traps they had laid and continued to add to the chorus of barks, howls, and snapping jaws to keep urging the panicked beast forward. Slowly he could see them making progress as their target had no choice but to turn away from her herd and the other, larger and probably older elephant like animals began to break away from her for their own good. He glanced toward where their traps had been laid, knowing that they would still need to curve its path a bit more to really make sure that they wouldn't miss their target. He let out a bark, calling for Lament and ushering the man forward to help him as he picked up his pace a bit and leapt more toward the mammoth's side, guiding it more to its right with the help of his pack mates. Plague | Viridis | Procella

They were chasing down something that was… a hundred, no, a billion times her size. The colossal thump, thump of their hooves hitting the earth vibrated through her skull. Her heavily beating heart was drowned out in the greater vibration.

She wasn’t sure what about the colossal beasts screamed ‘this one’ to her father, but she trusted it, and moved with the group to cut it off. Her mother and Hela breaking from the main party. She watched with her heart in her eyes. Venom was supermum but she was tiny, tiny, tiny in comparison. Soon they would be making the kill, and Kitsune and the other pups would have to break away from the hunt. She glanced towards Ike again, determined to keep her clumsy sister close.

"Speech"

His tongue slipped from his lips in soft, determined pants. Not from exertion, but concentration as he kept the alignment of each mammoth in his thoughts. His eyes settled on the one Hattori decided upon, and he kept himself close to the group as they began to run it down. Venom and Hela split from the main party, and he glanced towards Plague as the other man sought his attention.

He gave Plague a sharp nod of understanding, they needed to get their path just right for enough of the colossal beast to fall upon their trap. His paws quickened upon the ground and he kept neck to neck with Plague as he added his own snarling growl to the steering wheel.

"Speech"