As interesting as the elephant was to hunt and as much as he was enjoying experimenting with the rare supplies they got from it, he still felt like they needed some more meat that wasn't such an acquired taste to add to their stock pile for the wedding feast. He had enjoyed hunting with Fern the last time they went hunting together so he recruited her to come along with him to go after a couple of young okapi he had spotted when he was out scouting. They were just adolescents he guessed, but they were sizable enough to make a good meal. He led the way out to Fossil Ridge and signaled for Fern to stop as they crested over a hill, keeping low as he pointed out the pair of okapi that were grazing in a valley down below. "Any preference on how we do this?" he asked softly, making sure they were staying down wind in the meantime.

"Ezra Adravendi"

Fern follows Erza from the castle toward the ridge nearby where a couple of young okapis are said to be grazing. After her blunder with the elephant hunt, she had been worried that no one would want to hunt with to her again. When the antlered male informed her of the prey, Fern had eagerly agreed to help. Ezra signals for them to stop as they crest the hill, the gray girl already hunkering down in the grass to watch the young okapi. He asks if she has any preferences and Fern looks to him with a smile. Voice low, she says, “When Rudy and I hunted one, he waited to in a spot to ambush while I flushed it out. However, that was in a herd. I think if we both get close enough, we can chase it down. I am good with either way. Just be careful of the hooves.” Ocean-hued watch Erza, ready to do whatever he instructed her to.

"Fern Lark" | "Puff"

Ezra gave a nod as Fern gave a couple of options, returning her smile. For two seasoned hunters a young animal like this really shouldn't be much of a challenge so she would probably right in her thinking that they could probably just ambush them. The breeze was on their side and kept them down wind at least. "Alright, lets creep up on them then. Quick and easy. We'll keep low and go slow. When you think we're close enough you kick it off." With that decided he hunkered down and started creeping along the ground as he moved down the hill through the grass, only the very top of his back and the highest points of his antlers visible over top. He moved as quietly and as carefully as he could manage as they moved down toward the unaware okapi. He separated from Fern just a bit so they could both come in at slightly different angles so if the okapi tried to run off in one direction or another one of them would be in its path to stop it. Once they got pretty close he kept an eye out for Fern, waiting for her to make the first move.

"Ezra Adravendi"

A smile and dip of her head is given and they both begin to creep forward. Fern’s shorter frame is completely hidden in the grass but, even with the small spots of Ezra that stick out, the okapis do not spy them. They are too focused on the grazing. She splits off from the antlered male, moving to cover the opposite side so the prey will be hemmed in. Muscles coil and, when she is as close as she dares to get, Fern leaps from her hiding spot. She gives a short bark and the okapi both turn to look at her before starting to flee. She runs alongside the one closest to her and snaps at it when it begins to turn her way. It falls back in line as the pair give chase.

"Fern Lark" | "Puff"

As soon as he saw Fern shoot out of the grass he did the same and started his part of the chase, the pair of okapi getting pinned between them easily. They were young and clearly didn't have a lot of experience with dodging predators so it wasn't difficult to keep them contained. Ezra ran them down a bit until he was able to get alongside the one closest to him and then he grabbed one of its front legs near the ankle and bit down hard, crunching the bone between his serrated teeth. He didn't try to pull on the leg just to avoid injuring himself, but that bite was enough to make the okapi tumble forward anyway and go sprawling across the ground. He was quick to jump on top of it, using his weight to pin it down and keep it from getting back up. He wasn't quite in a good spot to make the killing blow without having to shift off of it and risk losing his balance so he gave Fern a quick glance, letting her do the honors.

"Ezra Adravendi"

Fern has loved to hunt since the moment Rudyard had showed her how. The thrill of the chase, the way her heart thunders along with the okapi hooves… this is when she feels the most alive. Anytime the creature closest to her tries veer, it is met with a snap and a snarl. It helps to keep the other one pinned by Ezra, cutting off its partner’s path more effectively then she alone could have done.

She could run forever but they do need to bring at least one home, so when the antlered male brings down the one by him, Fern turns to help. Eyes follow the fleeing form of the okapi for a moment, wondering if it realizes just how close to death it came today. Ezra pins it and glances to her, a silent invitation to end the youth’s life. Without a word she slips up to its neck and latches on. Working her jaw, the gray girl gets a firm grip and pulls. Arteries and veins spray blood across the ground and its life ends quickly.

Stepping back, Fern gives Ezra a grin while licking the blood from her lips. When he is ready, she will help the antlered male gather the kill and take it back to the castle.


"Fern Lark" | "Puff"