They had spent a majority of the morning hauling some of the heavy stone pillars around the Stone Steppe to set up their trap for the giant beast they would be hunting. It took a lot of hard labor, but the wolves of Elysium were built for much more strength than Duchess was. They all took a long break from the hard work before it would be time to go on for their hunt. It was more a matter of fun than filling their bellies but either way it seemed to work out.

Duchess waited a little ways outside the Steppe for everyone to regroup with her when they were ready.

Once they were all together again, she stood and started to announce what they would be hunting and the plan. "Good work everyone. I've been tracking for a few days, our target will be a rhino." She briefly looked over everyone to see their reactions, but didn't linger. "It's been sticking towards the forests of the mountains due to cluster of packs this way. It will be a difficult task to drive it towards the Steppe. It is important to stick close to the rear of it, it's horns can be lethally dangerous."

Her eyes moved behind the group of wolves and back to the steppe where they had rearranged some of the movable pillars. Her steps went to approach Saracyn, Manea's son as a paw went to tap him on his shoulder almost playfully even with their drastic size differences. "And you will have the honors of the final blow." Gesturing to his hidden blades she then gave him and Manea a smile before turning to the rest of the group, "If we don't have any questions, we can move on to the hunt."

"Duchess"

Kichi may be the quiet sort but when a task was assigned he’d worked hard at helping to rearrange his share of the stone pillars.  It was an interesting concept to try and trap a giant beast in this thing.  How large was the prey going to be or how hard that this elaborate of a trap was necessary.  When it was time to break and get instructions Kichi jogged up to meet the others and listen to Duchess.

A rhino?  That was something he had certainly never dared to hunt before.  Not that surprising considering he always hunted alone in the past, this would be the first time for a group hunt.  How good were the other wolves?  The team would have to work well to manage this.  Teamwork is a new skill Kichi really needed to practice on.

The grey wolf didn’t bother speaking up to Duchess's words but he did nod to show he was listening to the instructions.  His gaze flickers to the other wolves to see their own reactions to hunting a rhino.  Did anyone else have experience with such things?

"Kichi"

Hauling heavy stones about with his family was easy enough work, if strenuous. Luckily, the little violet waif had been smart enough to call them together to begin in the early morning, before the sun's rays could begin to heat the stones and similarly overheat those moving them across the steppe. By the time all was said and done, they collected to lounge in the shade created by the corral they'd roughed together for their prey. Panting quietly from exertion and warmth, the titan still found himself ready to join in the hunt as soon as it was afoot. Hellish gaze followed the dainty movements of the little fae that was leading their hunt, getting to her paws and standing before the group to address them. It was all laid out so neatly, and she'd already done the work to track down their quarry. A rhino was difficult game, nothing he'd ever attempted before. They were giant, with tough hides and deadly horns. There were enough of them now though, that they could be able to manage it. The corral made more sense now, rhino's weren't particularly keen-eyed. It wouldn't notice the trap because it would only be able to see that it's path was obstructed. Once it hit the end, it would be too late to back out. A tiny smirk and a lift of his brow, paired with an appreciative huff. Well, the dappled fae was certainly a smart one. She gave the honours of the killing blow to the boy who had seemed to sprout into a young man in such a short while, and it began to make sense. This was a coming of age rite, no doubt. Saracyn was old enough, he could take part in the hunt and secure the victory for them with the help of his own weapons. Heaving himself to his paws, the titan offered a decisive nod of his head in agreement. This would be a hell of a hunt, and he couldn't wait for the chance to get back into the swing of things.

Imperia was interested in hunting just from the mere need to hurt and kill something. Things she wasn't allowed here. She was a fucking killer, someone who felt no remorse to rake lives, loves that all me at nothing for the brindle bitch. No one meant a shit to her, from the start of her tormentuos life, she wants mean to love for those calling themselves family, she was allowed to live because there was not other siblings in her litter. All dead at birth. She loved no one. She approached the hunting party which was being hosted by someone she didn't knew, and Poe and the Queens brood was also spotted. Eyes of coldness landed on each participant before taking a seat waiting for everything to start. "speak."| "You"

Art by Cloudy, Code by Cloudy

Manea certainly enjoyed a good day of work as long as their was a decent pay off at the end of it and she certainly hoped that this would be the case here. Moving around the stones at Duchess' direction had been easy enough since they were all a family of very large wolves for the most part, though she still appreciated the bit of a break that came once the traps were in their places. She was a tall and strong woman, but she wasn't the heavily built wolf that Alastor or Poe was. Once Duchess gathered them back together again, she came to settle next to Saracyn to hear out the plan that their guest had come up with. Her brows lifted with interest when she heard the target that Duchess had picked, an intrigued grin pulling at her lips. She had never hunted a rhino before since getting through that tough skin and dodging that huge horn usually seemed like more effort than it was worth, but she appreciated that Duchess came to them with a challenge. Since they had a large group to hunt with they might as well take advantage of it and have some fun. She gave Saracyn a grin when he was given the honor of the final blow, giving his shoulder a little nudge with her own. It was still hard to believe that he was now a yearling and practically matching her in height. He and Avacyn both grew so fast and had grown into wonderful young adults. With any luck this time next year she'd see her first litter reach their second birthdays and her next becoming a yearling as well.

"Manea Mendacium"

The prospect of a massive pack wide hunt was intriguing to young Saracyn. A lethal and enthusiastic hunter by nature, the young male was eager to be involved in bringing down larger prey he otherwise wouldn't have been able to on his own. Sara wasn't usually a team player unless it was with his sister, but he could make exceptions for his family. This new wolf, however... She was a stranger. He didn't know why his parents had allowed her free access into their lands. Sure, she was pretty, but that didn't mean much to the yearling right now. Maybe it would in the future. Maybe that was why his parents had let her in. Did they want to play that special adult game with her too? Dammit, the grown ups got to have all the fun...

The crimson brute strode up to the group as they gathered on the grassy fields of the steppes, cool gaze sweeping over the crowd as he took a seat. Having reached his adult height and matching his father in stature, he towered over almost every other wolf there, especially the tiny grape-colored fae leading their hunt. So far all they'd done was rearrange some of the toppled stone ruins without any directive as to why they were doing this. Duchess wouldn't keep them stewing on the why for long though. They were hunt a rhino. The name brought a curious tilt to Saracyn's head; he'd never heard of such a creature before. He looked first to his mother and father to gauge their reactions before focusing on their lead hunter once more. The plan was simple and unpolished: drive it towards the corral at the Steppe where they would make the kill. Saracyn was about to ask how she planned to kill it, but Duchess seemed to have clairvoyance, as she patted him on the shoulder and explained that he'd be ending the creature's life with his blades.

Cool cobalt eyes moved from Duchess to her dainty paw on his shoulder, staring pointedly at where she was touching him. She was oh so small compared to him, it was almost comical. It would take almost no effort on his part to snap her in half if he wished it. "Let's make this thing dead," he declared when Duchess asked if there were any other questions before they began. Sara was ready for the hunt and to show off the skills he'd worked on with his raptors.

"Saracyn Mendacium"

Warning: Saracyn is an explicitly mature character for violent and sexual content. Read his threads with caution.
Saracyn's designated wolf to protect as a Bodyguard is Avacyn. She may enter his threads not marked as Private.
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They all seemed to be awfuly more quiet types and that was completely okay with Duchess. If she hadn't taken the lead here, she would have been just the same. She smiled briefly with almost sarcastic humor to Sara's comment, and with that she nodded her head forward to get the group moving along with her.

"Me, Manea, and Kichi will drive the left side. With Saracyn in the lead on to right will also be Poe and Imperia. Make it loud when we go in." She suggested, but as they started their trek out towards the mountains they had to go quiet so they wouldn't steer their prey away or bring themselves into danger.

The better hunters of the group were more likely to scent the Rhino ahead though with it being a vastly different hunt she was sure others caught on as well. But still Duchess took a pause before directing Sara's group with a point of her paw along the tree lines. Once she could see the group on the other side through the brush, she made sure to make eye contact and ensuring everyone was ready before they pursued.

Jumping out, she started loudly at the rhino to startle it immediately, driving it from the left side and hoping that the rest of the group got the hint in order to get it and keep it moving.

"Duchess"

Kichi bobbed a nod at Duchess as she finished up the explanation, taking a moment to stretch.  The rather plain-looking grey and the white wolf was smaller than most of the other wolves, only Duchess being smaller than him.  It was almost strange to have someone as small as Duchess nearby, Kichi had grown used to wolves being taller than him despite being of decent size.

Kichi would follow Duchess and Manea, letting them choose the pace.  In Kichi’s mind, he pictured a rhino and its large size, thick skin, and giant horn, imagining the odds of one rhino and one wolf.  It would be an easy fight, for the rhino.  The only way they could make killing one work was as a team.  Would the rhino even really be inclined to run from them?  Kichi wasn’t scared by any means he just wondered if it would be a hunt or turn into a fight when the rhino decided they weren’t dangerous and they proved it wrong.  

He hadn’t spent much time around Al’s mate, not out of any desire to avoid her so much as it just hadn’t come up.  Kichi wasn’t sure what he’d talk about with her to just go and talk.  However, now as they headed towards their target he realized this was a nice chance to see how well she did in a hunt.  Not that he had any doubts, it was more this would be Kichi’s way of knowing her better.

Probably the same about her learning more about him?  Yeah, Kichi better do his best on this hunt.  He’d never hunted with a group before.  Hopefully, it wasn’t too glaringly obvious.  Maybe in the future, if he wanted to get to Manea it could be done in a way Kichi was comfortable perhaps with a hunt or spar or something.  

When duchess startled the rhino Kichi followed along after her, imitating her and doing a lot more snarling and a holler that really was completely against his style.  However, the rhino was indeed an impressive brute and Kichi was willing to cede that Duchess, and probably all the other wolves here had more experience than he did.


"Kichi"

The boy seemed keen to get the hunt started, as did the dainty fae who was leading it. So once she delegated their roles, with himself and Impy following Saracyn's lead on the rhino's right flank, they were off. A quiet unit of predators roving towards the looming mountain range to the west, all moving in sync with one another. It didn't take very long before the sparse forests gave way to scrubland, and as the group approached the edge of the treeline the scent of the rhino wafted in on the breeze. They were downwind, which was a point in their favour- the boy was still young, and any opportunity they could to gain the element of surprise was going to improve their chances of emerging from this hunt with the entire party intact. He pointedly waited to follow Saracyn's lead, as they skirted through the undergrowth along the treeline and towards the right flank of their grazing quarry. The bull was massive, and the stink of him spoke to the vast strength in those thick limbs and heavy skull. The rhino would not be an easy kill, but fuck would it ever be satisfying at the end of the day. The lavender mottled dame peered out from the other edge of the clearing, making eye contact before she launched out of the brush with a start. Once his nephew made his move, the titan was quick to follow suit. This wasn't his hunt, he was merely a warm body out for blood to keep the stars from getting overwhelmed. That suited him just fine, because at the end of the day he was here to serve and to rend flesh. When the titanic grazer veered out of line, he was there to snarl and bark and howl to move it back onto the right path. When his legs grew too tired to keep up a dead sprint, he lagged behind and let someone else take up the charge for a few furloughs before he caught back up and went right back to work. The familiar silhouette of the huge standing stones that made up the steppes loomed ahead, growing ever closer as they moved their quarry onwards. Something this heavy wasn't meant to sprint, and soon it was going to tire, and then the massive bull would turn on them and make its last stand. Here was hoping that they made it to the corral before then.

Manea followed Duchess dutifully as she lead them out to where they would begin their hunt for this rhino, glancing toward her with a nod when she suggested they begin their hunt loud from the start. The startle, chase, and trap trick was a tale as old as time and was a song and dance she knew very well. Once everyone was in their places and she stood in wait with Ducess and Kichi, she waited for the smaller woman’s signal before jumping out as well with loud snarls, growls, and barks. The group of them certainly got the rhino moving. The only question now was if they were actually going to be able to herd the big, armored creature all the way to its intended corral or not. It would definitely tire before they did, but would it put up a fight when it did?

Manea | Temno | Ciemny

Saracyn was oh so ready for this moment. He nodded to his raptors, gesturing to the skies with his muzzle and watching as the avians dutifully took flight. They would be helpful in maneuvering the giant beast where they wanted it to go. Following behind Duchess, the yearling brute listened in to the more experienced hunter’s advice. It still surprised him that someone so diminutive and fragile-looking could be a skilled hunter, but he supposed she would have to be for his parents to allow her access to their pack. The group moved along near the mountains, and as the earthy musk of the massive herbivore became noticeable on the wind, his excitement swelled.

Duchess made a wordless motion, which he repeated to his team, then silently split off, disappearing into the tree line of the evergreen forest. In the shadows of the forest, he was nearly invisible. His birds flew overhead, giving cries when they spotted their mark. Saracyn slowed his gait, taking up position behind some dense foliage. Then he waited. It didn’t take long for the overly dramatic sounds of snarling to be heard. The ground began to tremble as heavy footfalls brought the rhino closer and closer to them. He glanced back to the others and nodded his head, a silent “get ready” gesture.

And then it appeared over the hill, thundering towards the forest to try and escape the pursuing wolves. "Now!" Saracyn called out and lunged from the underbrush. He snarled at the rhino, leaping at it with jagged fangs bared. From above, his raptors swooped low, sharp talons scraping at the rhino’s eyes on one side to urge it to turn in the direction of the Stone Steppe. Saracyn ran alongside the great beast, marveling at its size and thick hide while he snarled and snapped at its thick ankles, easily able to keep pace.

"Saracyn Mendacium"

Warning: Saracyn is an explicitly mature character for violent and sexual content. Read his threads with caution.
Saracyn's designated wolf to protect as a Bodyguard is Avacyn. She may enter his threads not marked as Private.
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Imperia remained silent, just staring at the purple canine who was giving them orders, something Imperia didnt like, but she like her cousin Poe was looking for a soo needed bloodbath, she needed the taste of blood in her jaws, she havent done so since arriving to these lands. How she missed her life of murderer, of assasin for profit. But today the profit beside food would be satisfaction, yea she found that in killing and bringing down creatures. She said nothing when she followed Poe and Saracyn, to the beast's left and when Saracyn gave the signal she snarled, eyes cold, predatory, fangs ready for the dirty work ahead, tongue poking out as she followed after the reddish youngling, ears low. She would position herself on the beasts rear, biting whatever she found to keep it going to the desired place for it to be lead to. "speak."| "You"

Art by Cloudy, Code by Cloudy

All of the wolves jumped forward as a team in pursuit, Duchess couldn't be happier. All was going according to plan, everyone was pulling their weight and working together to get their ultimate goal. A unique kill for any of the Elysians to put under their belt. She hoped they were having some fun in the process, moments to remember at least.

They all drove the Rhino forward, it was startled at the ambush and started galloping in it's heavy steps towards the steppe. Duchess turned briefly to be sure Manea and Kichi were close behind her. They had more strength to use at least, so the closer they were to the back of the creature and driving it forwards with bites and bumps was more ideal.

The Rhino started to slow, but just as it may have considered stopping to turn and fend off the group of predators, Saracyn's birds swooped down scratching at it's eyes which kept it moving. Soon enough they had herded the giant creature into the positioned pillars. Duchess slowed quickly and pointed her paw around the back of the Rhino for her, Manea, and Kichi to to hold it in place as long as they could. "Poe, Imperia!" She shouted over the commotion while the beast made nearly ancient cries as it hit the dead end, "Hold it inside! Saracyn, now's your chance!" She was sure the young man wouldn't linger or hesitate. Duchess kept in line with the Rhino's head in case she had to jump in and pull it's head and horns away from the red brute when he jumped in.

"Duchess"

The thrill of hunting such a huge and dangerous creature was thrilling! Kichi ran along, bright-eyed, snarling, and mostly snapping at air but at one point his teeth grazed against the rhino leg, he saw an eye from the giant creature flashback at him.  The unstated threat was there, if not for the other wolves chasing the rhino it would love to spear Kichi for the bite.  Too bad for it, the rhino was set to lose from the moment the chase started.

Running it into a trap wasn’t nearly as fun as biting it until it bled to death but it was true, the skin was thick, and hard to get a deep bite into it.  Kichi stayed near the back of the pen, teeth bared daring their prey to back out.  His eyes momentarily flicked to Saracyn and back to the rhino.  

Even if Kichi wasn’t such a social fellow, working with others for a great hunt like this wasn’t so bad!  Maybe he should try to hunt with others more often after this.  


"Kichi"

As the end of the hunt neared, the titanic herbivore began to falter. Each stride seemed to come with greater and greater effort, and it looked like they would have to fight it into the corral- until a pair of raptors swooped down from the sky to claw at the side of the rhino's face. This goaded it back into a quick pace, and turned its massive form more towards the dead end of heavy stones that lay in wait to trap it on the steppe. The ruby marked giant found himself skidding to a halt as he followed their quarry into the mouth of the corral- backpedaling quickly to the very mouth of the stones. He waited there for Saracyn to move in, knowing the boy would need to be close to make the final killing blow upon the massive beast. He heard the shouted command by the violet dappled fae to hold the line with Imperia, and keep the rhinoceros from making a break back out the other end. He knew the moment it hit the dead end of their trap, the giant bull bellowed with primal rage and terror. He felt it deep in his chest, rattling his skeleton with the force of its ire. Setting his own heavy skull low between his burly shoulders, the hellish male tilted the spires of his horns up and out. Fangs bared, bioluminescent drool pooling on his tongue and falling onto the grass in thin rivulets, he braced himself for a hell of a dance with the massive animal. It took a moment or two for it to turn and try to charge back out of the corral, only to be met with several massive wolves in its path. Letting loose a booming snarl, the beast snapped his deadly jaws together in warning. Wherever it tried to move, he would be there to block its path and draw blood. Dodging the huge horn that forced its great head to droop towards the ground was incredibly difficult, and he quickly found it far easier to swing a heavy forelimb out to knock it aside with his steel bracers. The bruises under the armour would be brutal the next day, but that was a problem for the future.

With the Elysium wolves and outsider working in tandem, it took almost laughably no effort to corral the stupid lumbering beast in the direction they wanted it to go. Saracyn grinned a wicked, malicious smile; the dumb mountain of flesh had no idea it was even being herded! He might have felt bad for the ungainly creature—if he had any sort of conscience or heart. As it were, all the Mendacium youth was thinking of was sinking his fangs and knives into it and taking its life. Fortunately, he wouldn't have to wait long to get exactly what he wanted. The wolves herded the rhino into the trap, and once it was surrounded on all sides by toppled over pillars of stone, it finally began to catch on to what was happening. Too little too late.

As the rhino began to bellow and snort, trying to stand its ground, Duchess gave the signal. Saracyn didn't need to be told twice to take a life. He rushed in, quick as crimson lightning, darting across the rhino's field of view and just out of sight beneath its chin with a slide across the grass. He narrowly avoided a swing of the herbivore's giant horn, feeling it cut through the air near his side, but he found his opening and seized it. With a vicious snarl, Sara shot up like a missile and latched his fangs onto the soft, loose skin around the rhino's throat, clinging on while he repositioned himself for the coup de grace. The rhino bellowed in panic, but its cry was cut short. Saracyn extended his serrated blade and plunged it into the rhino's neck, right where he saw a thumping vein beneath the tough flesh. The rhino gave a choking cry, and when Saracyn withdrew his blade, a gush of hot blood shot from the wound, followed by another, and another, until a deluge of thick, hot blood was pouring from its neck. Saracyn had struck the carotid artery.

Dealing one more savage slash of his dagger across the rhino's exposed throat for good measure, the Mendacium prince kicked off of his dying quarry and rolled out of the way just as the rhino collapsed to the ground, alive but slowly bleeding to death. The young brute was grinning from ear to ear, his right side covered in blood and a triumphant, almost manic smile on his face. He nodded to the other wolves; if they wanted to put the thing out of its misery, they were welcome to. Otherwise, he was content to watch it slowly exsanguinate before his eyes.

"Saracyn Mendacium"

Warning: Saracyn is an explicitly mature character for violent and sexual content. Read his threads with caution.
Saracyn's designated wolf to protect as a Bodyguard is Avacyn. She may enter his threads not marked as Private.
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Cold eyes but yet calculating remained closely over the rhino, checking every single move. Ready to tear down even more into its fresh, drinking more of the blood that she was able to snatch out on her vicious attacks. And so did her pack mates, everyone doing their fucking job of bringing it down until from the mass blood lose it fell crumbling down the soil. Expressionless face stared in silence, getting her own dosis of gore. Of seeing other living thing perish before her eyes. It was entertaining but not as much as seeing another wolf in suck position. She allowed her tongue stained in crimson lick her lips, lick away the fresh and substances out of her fangs. Her white coat covered in red, a sickening smile formed, satisfied for now. Later on she would hunt more victims for her thirst an never ending desire to bring death to others. And in silence, saying nothing she left to help prepare the food.

(Exit via fade to help)