“I followed a scent yesterday of some deer.  It led me towards the hot springs.  It was getting later in the day though so I didn’t follow through to see precisely where.  Their pellets were still reasonably fresh though so they couldn’t have been too far.”  Kotori hadn’t spent a lot of time at the hot springs so it would be a nice place to check out that was neither overly far away and he already knew a meal was waiting for them.

Kotori glanced at his dad as they traveled with a grin.  His dad was going to spend the entire day with him?  With all of Kotori’s roamings only to return to the sickness and then wolves healing up it had been ages since he got to spend so much time with his dad.  “I guess when we are eating that deer meat I’ll have to figure out what else we should do with our day then.” Kotori was an adult or close enough so he had no intention to admit it but the idea of dad taking out that much time for him made the younger wolf feel pretty good about himself.  Dad was clearly proud of him and what son doesn’t like knowing that?

Kotori would keep up a steady lope across the ground, neither running full speed to tire them out overly fast nor a slower speed that would waste time.  Once they got to where he’d started tracking the deer last time Kotori would slow down, scenting for the deer then moving along the path.  No more second-guessing and glancing at dad for what to do next.  Kotori might not have the mastery some wolves did by experience but he did know how the game worked now.

He’d slow down, working his way through bushes until he heard the click of hooves quietly against a stone.  The water pools would be an odd thing to work around.  Would they help or hinder a deer’s escape?  Either way, it would be best to get as close as possible for a short and quick hunt he imagined.  

Kotori Fatalis

 

The Warlord thought of the hotsprings, where he and Zee had gone for an afternoon, and found a strange ghost waiting for them. That had been just before the sun had decided to rest for a season, and the illness had struck them. He shook the thought away, knowing whatever it had been was long gone now. Gone with the sun. He paced lightly beside Ko, knowing the path to the springs well. He enjoyed the chance to stretch his legs, and it felt good to be travelling beside his son. A part of him still couldn’t believe how big he’d gotten. He would be two soon. Growing into whatever path he chose, just like Briar. He only hoped Ko’s path didn’t take him too far from the Armada. “The worlds out oyster, Kiddo” he agreed, slowing his pace as they arrived near the springs and Ko started to sniff about in search of a lead. The Warlord stayed silent, letting Ko take the lead and find the scent of the deer he had found earlier. "Speech"

Kotori knew dad was letting him run the show and Kotori likewise knew it was a chance to prove himself.  Kotori looked at the new situation he’d put himself in and broke the larger task into smaller ones in his mind.  The prey was a moderate-sized white-tail which made him still smaller than dad or Kotori.  All they needed was one or two good bites and the deer would be done for.  

The deer was grazing in the foliage and so as long as they kept it around the area the water wouldn’t get in their way.  Behind the deer, there would be an open area farther from the deer than ideal for sneaking up close.  However, even if the deer spotted a wolf from further back it could scare the deer right into the jaws of a waiting wolf hiding in the brush near it.  That would dad or him would herd and the other would get the kill.  Who got which role?  Both had to be done right or the hunt was a fail.  

Kotori watched the deer for a bit.  Of course, if the deer was dumb or not paying attention it was possible a wolf sneaking up from behind could get closer.  Kotori finally decided that while the differences weren’t overly large it made more sense for dad to grab the fleeing deer.  He had the larger fang and was just a bit larger than Kotori.  This wasn’t about showing off how he could kill the deer right now, this was making the best plan.  Today he would set the deer up and get it to run right to his father and there would be another chance for him to make the kill later.  

“Alright,” Kotori finally said when he had his plan, “you go to the left where that one tree with the broken branch is and wait there.  I’ll go around wide and pop out,” Kotori raised a paw pointing farther off behind the deer where there was brush. “Over there.  The deer is bound to notice me before I can make a good grab at him but I can make sure he runs directly to you for an easy grab.”

"Kotori Fatalis"

The deer fell into the view, and they watched under the protective cover of foliage. Eyes on the deer, as both kept their silence. The Warlord was content for his son to run the show, letting the young wolf steer them on the hunt. It had been too long since they’d had a day out together, and Seer was content to simply enjoy it. After a moment, Kotori spoke, a plan finalised in his mind. The Warlord looked forward, searching for the tree with the broken branch, and nodded once. “Aye, I see it” he agreed. “Let’s do it” he said, giving the tawny wolf a gentle nudge of his shoulder, before moving off quietly around the woods. Making his way left, and into the spot picked out for him. "Speech"

Kotori nodded once he had his father's approval and made his way around to the brush he’d spoken of for himself.  Once he was in position he watched to make sure Sirius was likewise ready.  Kotori took one slow deep breath to relax.  This wasn’t a hunt with just any other wolf but it was his dad.  This was no time to make a mistake.  Once the horned wolf was sure he was calm and confident he crept forward.

The younger wolf lined up so that it was a straight vertical line from him to the deer and to his father.  It was perfect.  Kotori burst from the brush and as planned the deer started running with more distance than Kotori would generally want for when a hunt commenced.  This time that was fine, Kotori wasn’t the one who would make the kill.  He would just set things up perfectly.

The deer did as it was made to do and ran straight for his hidden father.  Kotori smiled grimly at the meal they would soon be able to share.

"Kotori Fatalis"

The Warlord crouched in the grass, his hind legs bunched behind him for power once the deer were close enough. Lying so, he waited, peering through the grasses at the snippets of deer he could see. He wasn’t waiting long before he could hear the sound of a wolf crashing through the grasses, and the sound of a frightened deer as it realised its danger. It let out a cry and tore through the grass directly towards the Warlord. Sirius coiled his muscles, waiting until the deer was close enough, and then let loose a terrible snarl. The deer bucked in an attempt to slow its pace it its surprise, opening up the perfect target for the Warlord, who threw himself at the deer. He grappled it as it reared, knocking it to the ground, and pressed his forepaw down on its neck. “Kotori, will you do the honours?” he asked, looking across at his son. After all, this day was for him. "Speech"