Rudyard was smiling as he lead Fern from the plains, back through the castle, and then out to the gods' garden.  Reddy flew above them, carrying the snare in her talons.  When had he last felt so good?  Content and worries of yesterday seemingly less important.  As they moved through the gardens he did flick his eyes up to Reddy more than once and then back to the path, moving to a spot where the grass was a bit more worn down and the grass having clearly been chewed on.  

“Alright,” Rudy stopped and Reddy swooped down to drop the snare before he started gliding overhead.  “Deer come out here at times, they helped to make the path.”  It wasn’t much of a path, but it was still there for the keen observer. Grabbing the stake in his mouth, Rudyard slammed it into the ground, pressing on it until he was sure it was deep enough.

Rudyard tested the stake with his paw, giving it a shake.  That done he stretched out the rope and tossed some grass blades and light brush hiding most of the snare.  The deer wasn’t likely to notice it anyway as it was going to be in a hurry.

“That’s step one.  Step two, you find a deer for us.”  They had already exercised a bit today, loosened themselves up and while this wasn’t the fight training Rudy had first planned this was also useful.  Hunting meant learning to be observant, it would still help stretch her muscles but so long as they did it right there would be no risk of hurting her shoulder more.


"Speech"

After they had sat for a while, enjoying their time together, it was decided that should probably finish what they started out to do. Fern follows Rudy, eager to hunt alongside him and learn his tips and tricks. Reddy carries the snare that they had made, flying above the traveling pair and Fern sees Rudy glancing up to the sky more than once. Paws carry them past the castle to a place Fern has been. Fern casts her gaze about and she spies the worn-down grass and slightly cropped stalks after several moments.

Rudy speaks up and stops, Reddy quickly swooping down to drop the snare before returning to the sky. Fern nods as he explains about the deer, driving the stake with the snare into the ground and preparing their trap. He tests it and Fern helps him hide it. When he informs her that she is going to be finding the deer, Fern’s tail wiggles a little and she nods, determined to find a deer. Moving over to the spot where the deer had trampled the grass, Fern tests the air, picking up the distinct scent of four deer.

Looking to Rudy, flashing him a smile, Fern nods her head in the direction of woodland where the deer’s scent leads. Without a word, the gray girl takes off, taking care to test the air and make sure they were downwind of the prey. The grass is soft and she takes care not to kick any loose rocks. It doesn’t take long for her to find the deer, a short way into the wooded area. A group of three does with a buck separated a short way off picking at grass. Looking to Rudy, Fern inclines her head toward the buck and raises her eyebrows, asking without words if that was the one they want.


"Speech"

Rudy followed Fern paying attention to the scents in the air himself but remaining quiet to let Fern have the satisfaction of finding her deer on her own.  Eventually, they found the deer and Kotori gave her a small nod of encouragement.

Rudy nodded speaking softly, “Remember, today is less work than later.” Rudy glanced about at the different lengths of grass, “we can go to the left, we want to get around behind it to chase it back towards the snare.  You stay on the left side of it, I stay on the right.  We can herd it to the snare.”  Rudy would rather just take the deer down the old-fashioned way but they’d wait to heal up a bit better for that.

“You get to start this, I’m following your lead.”  Rudy had no idea if they’d succeed or not but that wasn’t important.  This was letting Fern get a taste for things.  A bit of experience, a bit of healing and they’d improve.  “Remember you are injured.  Don’t tear the stitches.  If we can’t keep up it's ok, this is practice.”

Rudyard Carpathius

Happiness bubbles inside Fern as Rudy nods and reminds her of the plan. Aqua eyes turn toward the deer, nodding her agreement to the plan. A wide smile appears as her eyes glance back to Rudy, eager to make him proud of her. Speaking softly, Fern offers Rudy reassuring words, “Don’t worry Rudy, I will be careful. Just… be sure to follow your own advice.” With a wink and a nod, Fern moves slowly into position. She makes it, finding tall grass near the left side of deer. Turning her body so the deer will be toward the snare, Fern looks to Rudy’s hiding spot and nods, taking a deep breath and readying herself for the chase to come.

Aqua eyes connect with soft golden gaze and without a word, she bursts from her hiding place, starting the party. Fern snaps and snarls as she rushes toward the deer, putting on a vicious show for the deer’s sake. Its head shoots up, seeing the snarling predator and the deer turns to flee. Its bounds effortless onward, heading straight toward where the snare waits. Remembering Rudy’s words, not to push herself, Fern eases up, slowing slightly to allow her stitched shoulder the shorter movements it demands.


"Speech"

Rudy moves into position himself, no more talking at this point.  Fern has her directions and they both have the plan so it's time only to focus on the hunt.  Rudy’s gaze is on the deer, in his peripheral vision he can see where Fern is and the moment she runs out he follows along beside her.  Rudyard chooses a gait that’s even with Fern.  It’s like second nature now to keep his body moving in sync with the deer.  If the deer tried to swerve towards he’d move towards it so that it stayed in the middle.  There was no large turning in all of this, just the most subtle of movements.

At one point his bad leg stumbled but he caught himself and continued on.  It was frustrating to not run at feel speed but both of them needed to work up to harder runs.  Eventually, they got back to where Fern and Rudy had started, where the snare had been placed.  This really wasn’t Rudy’s normal manner of hunting but it appeared they would get lucky.  The deer’s hoof landed in the snare and took hold of its back leg.  It cried out for help but of course, no help would come.

Rudy grinned as they caught up to it.  “Hey, it worked.” Rudy grinned at the little way of admitting he hadn’t been all that confident. “Now, show respect to it.  Make the kill fast.  The windpipe is a good spot to bite through.  No reason to make it remain to suffer and terrified.”  If Rudy hadn’t understood it before he did know.  Looking in the scared deer’s face he saw a victim and Rudy wondered if his eyes had looked like that back then.  Yes, let it be out of its misery.  

"Rudyard & Fern"

The chase starts and Fern is running as fast as she can. Rudy’s words ring in her head and she eases up, slowing to allow her healing shoulder the shorter movements it requires. The gray duo fall into rhythm, herding the deer ever closer to the snare. When Rudy’s bad leg gives out causing him to stumble, Fern almost gives up the chase to turn back and help him. Casting a worried glance back toward him, the gray girl sees him catch himself and he quickly continues on. Releasing the breath she had been holding, Fern turns her full attention back to the deer.

Soon the spot where they had laid the snare comes into view and Fern once more holds her breath, hoping this works. Luck is on their side as one of the deer’s back legs hit the trap and the rope snaps tight, pulling the deer to ground. Rudy’s grin and words has the gray girl chuckling as she moves toward the downed deer. Rudy’s words follow her and she nods, seeing the fear in the deer’s wide, rolling eyes. It struggles, trying to get back up and flee. Wild eyes see her approaching and the deer pants, slowing its frantic movements as it realizes its fate.

Fern does not draw out its death, swiftly moving toward its neck and placing a paw to pin the animal’s head down. Reaching toward its windpipe, Fern sinks her teeth in and pulls, blood spilling onto the dirt and leaves. Its death is as swift and merciful as she can make it. As she lifts her head up, Fern uses the paw that had its head down to pat the deer, whispering, “We thank you for life and the meat you give us. Be at peace now.” Clearing her throat, trying to hide the words she had said, Fern steps back, looking to Rudy and asks, “So, how did I do?” Tail wags lightly as she moves to Rudy’s side and awaits her evaluation.


"Speech"

Rudy steps up beside Fern as she finishes off the deer giving a grin and nod, “Good job.  I’ll ask Gwyn how long until your shoulder is alright to stretch out more for a full hard run.  Then we can hunt the preferred way.”
 She had kept even with him for the chase and her killing bite had been quick and well-aimed.

“Go ahead and eat your fill, what’s left after the two of us eat we can take back to the pack.” Rudyard saw no reason to carry it all the way back as it was then start eating.  It just meant extra weight to lug back.  “After that, we can walk the perimeter then, well, whatever you want to do.  A hunt, walkabout patrol and that should be good for the day for a workload.”

That said Rudy would lower his own head to follow through with the eating part of the deer as he’d mentioned.

Rudyard Carpathius