Now that things were on track within the Bamboo, Hattori set his sights on the bay neighbouring the maze. Fishing was an integral part of Nihon culture, villages and sprawling clans dotted the coast to take full advantage of the ocean's bounties, and Hattori intended to do the very same here. He breathed deep, savouring the salty brine as his eyes fell upon the calm waters of the bay. He knew enough about the sea to realise this place was a haven for marine life, that the waters were rich with seaweed and kelp, fish of all sorts of species, dolphins and- The silver of his eyes snapped to a dark shape in the water, long and chunky. A shark? No it was moving too slowly and as far as he was aware they didn't frequent bays like this. A seal then? Except again, he didn't think they lived this far south.

The mystery creature poked its head above the water,  it's snout all smushed as though it had swum nose first into the bottom of the bay. Whatever it was, it seemed to be native to these parts.  Another question sprung to the Kaicho's mind, was it worth hunting? Thinking he ought to get a second opinion-and he'd probably need help bringing it ashore- he tipped his head back and called out for the wolves of Tojo.

Speech

Usagi had followed his brother here to try and explore their extra patch of land. The pack had expanded its borders and as such, they had new places to explore and new prey to catch. However, though Usagi hated fishing in almost all its forms - the fish were too slippery, and he wasn’t graceful in water as he was on land - he understood it was a part of their heritage. He needed to practice it, at least once in a while. It was a practice he had in his blood and his roots, and he couldn’t skirt out of it every time. After much refusal the first few times Kuroo nagged him about exploring this bay, he finally relented. He could find some predators to fight here, as well, or just something new to eat. As he heard Hattori’s call for the Tojo wolves to come over, he did so, his muscular limbs carrying him towards the beginnings of the calm, shallow warm waters where their leader stood. Carefully, the male stepped towards him, only upon coming closer that he saw what his Kaicho had been calling them over for. Chartruse eyes, normally dark with and icy hot temper, glimmered in curiosity and confusion as he noticed the fat grey lump in the water. Upon squinting, he saw the creature was certainly not a lump but an animal - inexcplicably rotund, with a lumpy face and flat flippers to match. It wasn’t attempting to flee, but it just..sat there. Floating. It certainly couldn’t be very bright to be fairly close to an apex predator and not defend itself at least. He was beginning to get the gist that maybe this was a creature they could hunt. Glancing over to Hattori, the male said, ”Kaicho, have you any idea what this creature is?" He paused, watching the beast simply as it lazily grazed on some of the overrun seaweed and kelp.

Speech

wishing there was something left to lose

this could be the day i die for you—

No one could quite understand how difficult it was to convince Usagi to go fishing with him. It took lots of convincing, begging, and whining to finally get his grumpy gus of a brother to give in. To say Kuroo was excited was an understatement. He would spar with Usagi whenever his brother wished, even though he wasn't the biggest fan of it. So if he was so ready to help his brother practice his fighting skills, why would Usagi not want the same for him? Plus, he would need help building some sort of reputation in the pack if he didn't want to be thrown out on the front lines. Fishing was at least one thing Kuroo was really good at. He had the patience of a saint and could sit and stare at the water all day. It was fun and he enjoyed how slippery the fish was. Made it more exciting at the least. So with Usagi in tow, the painted boy made his way toward the bay the pack had laid claim to. Seeing the beauty of the open water made him miss home, but also feel hopeful toward the future. Would they ever return? Kuroo believed probably not at this point. Pulled from his thoughts by the sound of Hattori's call, he quickly followed Usagi over to their Kaicho. When he walked up to the water's edge, his own pale gaze noticed the sight of a big rock. Confused as to why both his brother and their Kaicho were staring at the rock, Kuroo's head tilted curiously. It was bobbing in the water and suddenly two beady eyes blinked lazily up at them. The creature didn't move but it did cause Kuroo's whole body to freeze. What in the world was this lump of an animal? Why was it not frightened by the sight of them? Hattori's size alone would cause most to turn and flee. When Usagi asked if Hattori had an idea of what the thing was, Kuroo glanced over in hope that their Kaicho had an answer.

Two sets of approaching paw steps made Hattori's left ear twitch a little. He hadn't called for anyone in particular but he couldn't say he was surprised to learn the brothers were the ones to heed his call. It reflected well of them, punctual and willing to offer a helping paw even if they didn't quite know what the challenge ahead would entail. He nodded, pleased. Their confusion was well-founded and though he wasn't nearly as emotive, the Kaicho's feelings  carried a similar tune. Even with three wolves standing on the shore, the lump didn't move or seem to feel any sense of alarm.

It was just as calm as the bay's waters. Soft as it gently lapped against the cove.

"I do not know." He admitted easily, no shame in it. But other than requiring assistance, this was an opportunity to test the brother's skills. To see how they would face this strange situation. "You are both experienced hunters, are you not? Take the lead and I will assist you."

Usagi’s questions would remain unanswered. Even as his brother approached, equally confused at the lumpy creature they’d both encountered, the rather absent-minded beast simply..sat there. The bay was calm, the waves tiny and harmless as they quietly lapped the shore. The koi-wolves alabaster toes began to sink into the wet sand, eyes focused on the unmoving animal - it was an animal, it had to be, its breaths even and exhales bubbling out of slitted nostrils. Beady eyes observed the wolves with a gaze as empty as the bright sky. At Hattori’s request that the brother’s lead the hunt, he glanced to Kuroo. They’d had bigger challenges - he had a feeling this slow beast wouldn’t give much in the way of defending itself. He knew Roo so well, he didn’t even feel the need to tell him where to go - their actions fell together as they’d begin the hunt, at least with this creature. Besides, his sibling was better suited to fishing and knew such tactics better than he. Allng with Kuroo, Usagi slipped into the shallow waters of the bay, relieved the waves didn’t jostle him like the main sea. His brow furrowed in confusion at how exactly to hunt this beast, the wolf could think little else except to dive briefly under the surface and snap his jaws at the animal’s flat tail, seeing the beast begin to move - perhaps it was confused as to why these strange wolves were nipping at it, but it didn’t offer much in the way of resistance. Unless Roo or Hattori did something else, as well, to make it do something and get them closer to catching it.

Speech

wishing there was something left to lose

this could be the day i die for you—

Kuroo's focus lingered on the rock appearing mammal that bobbed in the water. With one ear turned toward their Kaicho and his brother, he listened. Already, his body was stiffening and muscles coiling in preparation to hunt the beast. Was it a beast? Surely, it was large enough to be considered one. Even at the words of Hattori, Kuroo nearly wanted to scoff. Experienced hunters or not, none of them had any idea what this animal was. How would they take it down with no knowledge? Surely, they should examine it first. Watch it from a distance and see if it moved or exhibited any sign of aggression. He wouldn't have the chance to do so. With one look from Usagi that told him everything he needed to know, his paws began to prowl slowly into the waters. A bit more finesse than his darker coated brother, the water barely rippled as he entered. With ease, Kuroo sank into the shallow depths and moved along the other side of the creature. Creeping closer to the behemoth of a rock, it didn't seem to mind their close proximity. Round and smooth with hardly a sharp tooth to show them, he wondered if it would let them kill it. Floating on the surface to die as if it didn't care. Around him, the water's current strengthened as Usagi dipped down and gave the creature a good chomp on its tail. Beady eyes flicked over to him in confusion and frustration as it began to flail a bit. Nothing much more than that. Figuring he needed to get an idea of how thick this animal really was, Kuroo gave some space first before paddling over to bite at his flipper. Thick, hard, and nearly impossible to breakthrough. No wonder it didn't care. The beast had skin thick enough to keep it protected. Surely they would need their Kaicho's assistance for the final blow. Releasing the animal's flipper as it began to flail a bit harder now, Kuroo moved a bit closer to go for the skin where the flipper connected to its main body. It was a bit softer there, not as protected to make for easier movement. While ripping its flippers off wouldn't be as effective, it could be a start. His eyes flicked over to the skin under the beast's face and wondered if it was softer there too. Glancing over at Hattori on the shore, his eyes would say it all. Their Kaicho was larger, stronger, and had enough expertise to take it down. If he and Usagi held it in place to keep it from escaping, this would be an easy job done.

Hattori watched from the shore, head tilting to the side as he watched the brothers approach the creature, understandably unsure of how best to bring it down. It was fat and blubbery, finding a target they could feasibly clamp down on wasn't going to be easy but he was confident enough in their skills and was willing to help out should they ask. He waited and soon noticed the look Kuroo shot his way, wading into the water Hattori wasn't fond of swimming but could manage just fine. Even in rough currents he could stay afloat, didn't mean he liked it though.

Here the swimming was easy, almost effortless as he kicked his way towards the blob that was starting to move a little faster as another wolf approached. Following Kuroo's line of sight, Hattori dipped beneath the surface as bubbles drew from his nostrils and made to grab at an extended flipper with his jaws. Planting his back paws against the bay floor for leverage, he dug his talons into the meat of its side as he hauled with all his might.

It seems the snapping at the beast’s tail did something for it to react, but only mildly. It must not be a very bright creature, or perhals it was the immense thickness of its flipper that gave even his strong jaws a hard time. It was like chewing through a thick leather hide, and only slightly more appetizing. Kuroo then jumped into the shallow waters, instead facing his way towards the animal’s flippers near the front of its body - the equivalent of forearms, he assumed. What a strange thing - what could it be capable of besides bobbing endlessly in this murky pool? It managed to flail a bit more as his brother managed to find a soft spot to sink his teeth into, which help all the more for the two to secure the thing for their Kaicho’s move. Still latching onto the tail for balance, he braced himself at the dire’s entrance into the water, the surface breaking and bubbles foaming as the massive man took aim at another flipper, using his strength to begin hauling the creature onto shore. Glancing at Kuroo, he hoped his brother would begin the process of using the pause in between the man’s tugs to push the thing up onto land, finding it a tad difficult due to it now deciding that it should panic. Still, it could only do so much, and its demise was imminent. Its lumbering form was pulled closer and closer onto the sandbank, and he kept at it, hoping Kuroo was holding on tight.

Speech

wishing there was something left to lose

this could be the day i die for you—

There was only a brief moment where he thought that possibly they wouldn't be able to take the behemoth down. It wasn't the largest thing they'd ever taken down, but it was indeed the heaviest. Quite literally a floating boulder in the water. Kuroo persevered anyway as he felt the lingering gaze of his brother as they continued to damage the panicking creature. Holding onto it tight to still it so that Hattori could make his move, Kuroo began to feel their Kaicho's movements of pulling it up onto the beach. Taking that as his hint to start pushing, he waited until the top of Hattori's pull before pushing. Planting his own paws on the sandy ground, he held onto the manatee and shoved it with his shoulder. It was laborious work, but they were managing. Heaving deep controlled breaths, Kuroo worked with Usagi's push and Hattori's strong pulls until the monster from the water was up onto the shore and gasping for its own breath. Once it was safely out of the water and unable to roll back in, Kuroo released his grip and took a step back. Inhaling deeply, he glanced over at the other two. Exhausted and waterlogged, the splotched boy couldn't help but smile. They'd done it. This thing surely would have enough blubber to last the pack through the whole winter. Not that it ever really got cold in Auster. Waiting for Hattori's next words on what they should do to make sure its life was ended, he gathered his energy and breath.

Dragging the beast ashore was far easier said than done. Far far easier. Even Hattori was panting slightly by the time they made landfall, coats drenched and reeking of seaweed as blood began to sink into the sand. His jaw ached and toes throbbed, but the hardest part was over to the extent they'd be able to take a breather for a moment if need be. Though still alive beast clearly wasn't going anywhere, it flopped uselessly grunting softly as its heart thundered in its meaty chest.

Then again Hattori wasn't the sort to drag out the inevitable. He was cold but not cruel, to prolong its life was to prolong its fear and panic.

"Kill it quickly." He told them with a gesture of his toeless paw. "There is no reason to make it suffer more than it already has." He presumed the brothers would agree, they were a lot of things but callous they were not.

Dragging the animal onto the sandy bank was an arduous task, even for the muscular dire wolf. Usagi followed suit after Kuroo, his pelt trailing trickles of seawater behind him as he approached the fearful beast. Its eyes said it all, an expression of pure panic knowing its life was coming to a sudden and violent end. It had only been grazing content;y on the seaweed but a few moments ago - what had happened in such a span of time? Usagi wasn’t cruel himself, but he thought little of the prey animal’s sentiments and fear. All he knew was that he agreed with Hattori’s statement to kill it quickly, and mercifully. There was truly no need to prolong its clear suffering. Anybody could see that.

"I got it," He replied, swiftly retrieving his double-bladed sword from the maw of his nearby Akita. The dog followe dhis closely everywhere, but somehow at a sensible enough distance. Grabbing the hilt in his jaws, he figured the sword would make a bigger impact in the final blow - the beast’s thick skin would be difficult to bite through and would no doubt continue the panic. Glancing at his Kaicho and his brother for a second, he leaned his head back, then promptly thrusted one side of the blade into the animal’s thick skull. In an instant, the creature stopped its writhing, and the heart in its chest went still. Pulling down his sword, Usagi stepped back to allow his superior and his sibling to observe their collective catch. It would feed the pack well, no doubt, with blubber and meat to last them for a while, too. Their efforts were well rewarded.

Speech

wishing there was something left to lose

this could be the day i die for you—