Fern had sought out and requested for Basilisk to follow her back to the place that they first hunted together. He has a knack for learning how to hunt and, after their hunt, she had decided to him how to make and use a snare for hunting. Sitting in the clearing with huge boy made of black and blue, the gray girl looks up to him to offers a smile as she begins to explain, “Okay Basilisk. Remember how you said that you can’t run very far when you hunt? Well, I am going to show you how to make snare so you won’t have to rely on others to go hunting and you won’t have to run far to catch prey.”

Basilisk looks like he could get five adult deer and still be hungry. It seems like a good idea for him to know how to go and satiate his hunger by himself instead of emptying a pack’s food store. Pointing to the materials that she laid out before them, Fern explains, “First we need to braid the rope that we will be using.” Pulling three strips of leather toward them that has been tied at one end, she asks him, “Have you ever made one of these Basilisk?” She isn’t asking this to judge the boy but rather to get an understanding of what skills he may or may not have.


"Fern Lark" | "Puff"

Basilisk followed dutifully after Fern. surprised and pleased to learn that she had requested him. The Warlord had been pleased to inform him, assuming it meant the boy had shown himself well in their first hunt together. There was an almost lightness to his step - impressive for his size.

When she had him sit across from her, he did so without a word. Settling himself on the grass, and watching the smaller, but more knowledgeable silver wolf. When she explained what they were up to for the day, his tail began to swish behind him. Excited. He’d never made a snare before, and he was eager to learn. At her question, he shook his head. “I’ve made a fishing net before, however. Is it a similar concept?” he asked.

"Speech"

Fern smiles at the huge pup, noticing the way his tail swishes behind him. Basilisk tells her how he made a fishing trap before and the gray girl nods as she says, “Yes is a similar concept. In fishing you use the net to trap fish and pull them toward you. Here, we are making a trap that will stop the prey from fleeing. It may seem complicated but I’m going to show you a few tricks.” She gives Basilisk a wink before laying the knotted leather between them. Pointing a claw to the left most strand Fern explains, “Okay, first things first. We need to make the rope for the snare part. To begin braiding, put this strand over the middle one and pull the one that was in the middle to the left.”

Next, she points to the right strand and says, “Then the take this strand and place it over the middle while putting the one that was the new middle strand over to the right now. Here, let me show you. Can you place your paw on the knotted part to hold it down?”

Once Basilisk pins the leather strips to the ground, Fern picks up the two outside ends and weaves them one over the other, making sure to keep the braid is tight and the loops are snug. Pausing after three passes, she looks up to the huge pup and says, “Do you see how I keep the strands pulled tight so that there is no slack? This will help make the braids stronger. Now, it’s your turn to try. Let me, hold it for you.” With that she takes the started braid and pins it to the ground to allow Basilisk to begin to work. Fern says, “Okay, so pick up the left most strand and put it over the middle.” The huge pup begins to work and the gray girl offers him praise and guidance whenever Basilisk needs them.


"Fern Lark" | "Puff"

Interesting He thought, as she explained the largest difference in the concept of the two. One was to drag something towards you, and indeed he remembered the way he had moved the net to catch the fish. Which they had left full of holes so it could move effectively through the water, and allow them to drag the fish back to them. She didn’t want to drag their prey, only immobilise it.

He stuck his tongue out a little in concentration as he began to move the leather in the way she indicated. Fold it over… pull.. He did so, and miraculously it didn’t turn into a mess. The next she explained, and then demonstrated. Getting Bas to place his paw over it, and he did so. Watching in fascination as she worked. She looked very coordinated and efficient as she worked and it was hard not to admire her competence.

When it was his turn to fold it, her paw placed to hold, he began. Moving much more slowly as he began to fold it as she had indicated. His tail had stilled somewhere along the way, but as he finished the knot he looked up at her, and it started up again. “How's that?” he asked.


"Speech"

Basilisk is a great student and does everything Fern asks of him. When he shows her the finished product, Fern wags her tail and says, “Great job Basilisk!” Picking up the braided rope, she gives it a small tug with her teeth and nods in satisfaction at how strong it is. Putting the freshly braided leather rope aside, Fern pulls two long, thin, round wooden poles out from the pack she brought. On each of them there is one end that has a hole bored through it and the opposite end has a shaved spot when it looks like the two might fit together. Placing the items between them, Fern explains, “These are what will set the trap off. She the carved-out areas? They fit together and, when a hoof happens to hit them, they will break apart. But, to make the whole trap work, we will need to have a line attached to a weight. Which brings us to the other end.”

Pale paw moves to point out the holes, as Fern explains, “See these? We are going to put some thinner, longer leather strips through those. Now I get to see how dexterous you are.” She throws the huge pup a wink while she fishes out the two lines from the bag and passes one over to Basilisk. When he is ready, she shows him how to use his paws and teeth to maneuver the line through the spot. Looking up at the pup, she says, “Ready to try? Remember, I am here to help so don’t hesitate to use my paws.” A smile is on Fern’s lips as she watches Basilisk work.


"Fern Lark" | "Puff"

Basilisk eyed his teacher cautiously as she examined the finished result. Tugging at it with her teeth, and seemed satisfied. His tail swished some more behind him. He listened as she explained the rest of the trap and what they needed to do next. He eyed her a little wearily when she spoke of dexterity. His paws seemed to get bigger every time he woke up. How was he supposed to adjust to them when they were always changing? But he would do the best he could.

She helped him through every step, and he found himself enjoying the sound of her voice, and the patient way she explained everything. He managed - with some effort - to weave the thinner strips through where she had indicated, and they finished off the trap together. “How do you plan on getting something to walk over it?” he asked curiously


"Speech"

Fern smiles as the huge pup wags his tail. She gently encourages him through the next steps, reminding the pup that it isn’t about speed but doing a through job. When they are done, the gray girl offers him more praise, saying, “Well done Basilisk! See, not as bad you thought it would be… right?” A chuckle bubbles out as she stands and gathers the items together to stow them in the pack she had. Throwing the pack over her shoulders, she readies to go find a good spot to lay the trap. When Bas questions how she plans to get something to walk over it, she lifts her eyebrows and looks to the inquisitive pup with pride, saying, “Good question Basilisk. Part of setting a trap is placing it where the prey has no other choice then to run through it. Come on, I’ll show.”

With that, the gray girl leads the way in the direction where deer usually liked to graze, her eyes sweeping the area for a suitable place. They approach a gap in a short stone wall with two large trees bracketing the sides of the gap and Fern’s eyes light up as she calls Basilisk over to it, pointing out how the trees will work to help funnel the prey toward the gap. Putting the bag down, Fern fishes out the trap as she explains, “We can force the deer through here and make it leap over the short wall. We will place the trap were we except it to land. Now, help me put this together.”

The pair work together wrapping one of the long strips of leather from the wooden sticks around a thick trunk of the tree and stretch the line taunt. The other line is wrapped around a thin branch of the other tree and pulled as tight as they can get it without breaking said branch. It bows but does not break and the sticks are slotted together. Finally, the braided rope that they had made is attached to the other end of the leather strip wrapped around the branch and the wide slip-knot is laid on the ground under the sticks. When the sticks break, the tension from the branch will be released and the bent branch will fly back up into its normal position, pulling the slip-knot closed in the progress.

Nodding to herself, Fern then directs Basilisk to help her toss some of the loose grass and leaves over the trap to finish their trap. Once done, the gray girl steps back and scents the air, finding a herd of deer not too far off from them. Turning her eye up to the huge pup, she says, “Okay Basilisk! There is a herd of deer close by. Lead me to them.” Her smile is warm as she follows after the aspiring hunter.


"Fern Lark" | "Puff"

“That makes sense” Basilisk agreed, following after her as she carried the pack with the trap of her shoulder. When Fern found a spot she liked, Basilisk helped her wrap the leather around a tree and then a thin branch. He worked fairly quietly, helping her however he could. Once it was buried under loose grass and leaves, it was very difficult to see indeed.

“Alright, deer…” he agreed thoughtfully, lifting his nose in the air to find the scent she had. Once he had it locked, he trotted lightly through the territory. Moving quickly at first, and then slowing down as they approached. Taking efforts to move quietly once they were in hearing distance. Once he was crouched down in the undergrowth where they could see the deer, he nodded his head towards them. Waiting for her next instructions.


"Speech"

Basilisk leads the pair straight and true and the herd of deer soon appear before them. Crouching low in the underbrush, Fern whispers, “Okay, now we will want to separate a few of them and lead those toward the trap. Let’s try for three. That way we have more of a chance for one of them to hit the trap. You sneak over to that area over there on the left and I will take the right.” Pale paw indicates a huge tree on the left surrounded by brush and a smaller tree on the right. Once the spots are pointed out, Fern says, “Once I am position, I want you to start the chase. Go whenever you feel ready. Okay?”

Fern waits for the pup’s agreement before offering him a huge smile as they parts ways. The gray girl takes her time making it to her ambush spot, careful not to alert the prey to their presence, once in position, she looks to the area Basilisk hides and waits for his signal.


"Fern Lark" | "Puff"

He leaned his head towards Fern, to better hear her whispers. Once she laid out the plan for him he nodded his head in agreement. They would get into position, and try to keep at least three deers herded. The moment he nodded, Fern was off. Slinking through the undergrowth with learned grace. He watched a moment, before starting in the direction hat would get him to the left of her indicated tree.

It took him a little longer. Bigger, and less practised, he took his time so he didn’t startle their prey. By the time he got there, he knew she was likely to be ready. She had told him to start the chase, so he did so. He leaped out of his hiding spot with a growl. Startling the prey, and began to herd them. Knowing Fern would be there on the other side to keep them true.

"Speech"

Fern waits for Basilisk to begin the chase, her gray body coiling in preparation for the run to come. When the huge pup leaps out with a growl, Fern rushes out of her own spot, giving a shape bark to spilt the deer up. Pale paws thunder along the ground as she moves to separate three deer from the rest and send them charging along the path the wolves have chosen for them. The pair work together and soon three deer and two wolves are charging toward the waiting trap. Fern adjusts her speed to help keep the deer in line, falling back to snap at heels as needed or speeding up to hem them in.

The trees that stand guard at the gap appear and the gray girl slows, offering a few more snarls and a vicious snap at a leg to send the trio over the wall. The trap works perfectly as the second of the three lands on the sticks. It all happens so fast, the sound of snapping sticks; the rope is pulled tight around the back hoof of the deer; the sound of bones snapping as the deer’s leg as it is pulled back hard. Fern pulls to a stop near the wall, looking to Basilisk and saying, “End it quickly. The animal is hurt and we want to be humane. Give the deer a quick, painless death.” She watches the huge pup, offering instructions if he needs them.


"Fern Lark" | "Puff"

Fern was there a moment after he left cover, letting out a bark of her own as she began to herd the deer. Together, they could keep them running on roughly the path of their chowing. Any time one started to dart to the side, Basilisk would leap forward, barking and snarling.

It was actually pretty fun, herding he deer along through the woods was exhilarating and he found his tongue lolling out as he enjoyed the chase. Then they were sending the deer over the wall, and one hit the trap. There was a sudden snap as Basilisk moved around the wall and found the injured deer. “You got it” he agreed at Ferns directions. He trotted forward and grabbed at the deer's throat. Finding it easier than usual, trapped and damaged as the deer was. He made quick work of it, putting it out of its misery.

"Speech"