Keahi has been throwing herself into helping with anything the pack needs and, since the wolf that was training departed, the red wolf has doubled her efforts. The prince had become a sort of security blanket and, as long as he was around, she knew that she could drag him out to help her with hunting. But now, with Kotori gone for the rest of the season, the red wolf has had to find someone else to help replenish the food stores. Luckily, a stripped woman named Lyre had agreed to help her and the pair make their way out into the pack’s hunting grounds.

Blue eyes scan the huge trees whose gnarled roots twist up out of the ground and, for a moment, she allows herself to admire the land. Leaping atop a large root to get a better vantage point, Keahi spies the herd of caribou that the pair have been tracking. Looking to Lyre, she indicates the direction with a quick point of her paw, before jumping back down to rejoin the striped female. Softly, she whispers, “The herd isn’t that far off and they have a couple young ones like we thought. How do you want to do this?” The red woman waits for the stripped lady to lay out the hunting plan.


"Keahi Mogotsi"

Had Keahi not seen her and invited her out to hunt, Lyre would never have left the territory. She wasn't even sure if she was supposed to be leaving, but it seemed better for her cover story if she went along with others when they needed help. If she was punished for leaving the Col, so be it.

The long legged fae wasn't made for winter. She was as slender as wolves came and was built for running across plains rather than braving the chill of winter. Perhaps she would have to ask Azure for a cloak. Or make a kill and try to make her own cloak. She wasn't well versed with skinning and processing hides, but she was sure that someone in the pack could help her with it.

Lyre and Keahi picked their was across the wood on the trail of caribou. The red woman jumped up to peer around one of the trees and soon rejoined Lyre on the ground, confirming that there were caribou up ahead. After Keahi questioned her, Lyre took a moment, then spoke in her quiet, even tones. "I'm built for running. We can choose a target and run it down. Bringing down a single caribou between the two of us should be simple." At least she hoped so. With a nod, Lyre quietly skirted around the tree to spy the herd. There was an older cow that limped as she walked. The striped woman motioned to Keahi, indicating their target.

"Lyre"

Lyre speaks in quiet, even tones and Keahi nods in silent agreement to her assessment. When, the shorter wolf skirts around the tree, the red wolf is close behind, nodding once more as the older, limping target is picked out. With that, her red body crouches low and the pair work to get closer to their target, staying downwind and remaining quiet as they move. Once they are as close as Keahi dares to get, the red wolf stops moving to prepare for the chase. She coils her body like a spring, muscles tensing as they store a short burst of explosive speed. The older, hurt cow crops at some grass that peeks out from the snow, paused in its limping movements to eat.

Casting a short glance to Lyre, Keahi bursts from their hiding spot, the coiled energy sending her rocketing forward at break-neck speed. She remains silent, racing toward the unsuspecting target in hopes to bring it do quickly. The herd senses danger and call of alarm rings through the forest as the caribou turn to flee. The cow is limping and it is far more difficult for her to break out into flat a run like the younger ones in her group. Keahi is hot on the prey’s heels, rushing up toward its right side to snap at hind legs and keep it locked between the two wolves.


"Keahi Mogotsi"

Keahi broke from cover first and Lyre was right on the red woman's heels. With Keahi on one side and the striped fae on the other, they pushed the injured caribou out and away from the rest of the scattering herd. Their target tried to follow and Lyre snarled, snapping at the ungulates heels, though carefully. She didn't want to get kicked in the face.

The pair ran across the snow covered wood, hot on the heels of their target. Steam poured from the caribou's wide nostrils and from Lyre's parted jaws as well. Hooves thundered off-canter due to the wounded leg of the caribou and it was tiring quickly. A little more push and they would have it winded and too weak to fight them off.

"Lyre"

The women work in silent tandem, making sure that when the wounded caribou tries to break to one side or the other, it is met with snaps and snarls. Lyre easily keeps pace, snapping at the creature’s heels while Keahi speeds up slightly to snap at its right front leg. Steam fills the air as the caribou pulls in huge lungsful as its frantic flee begins to slow. Blue eyes watch for the moment that she can pull down the lumbering beast… and it quickly arrives, its wounded leg gives slightly and causes the beast to stumble. Her red form flashes forward, grabbing at its front leg and pulling it out from under the weakened caribou. A scream of fear fills the air followed by a mighty crash as the caribou hits the forest floor. Keahi pins the flailing front legs and looks to Lyre to end the wounded creature’s life.

"Keahi Mogotsi"

Together the pair run the caribou until it's footing falters and it stumbles. Keahi, the larger of them, rushed forward, taking the opportunity to bring it down to the ground, using her weight to pin the flailing forelegs. Lyre moved quickly, leaping over her hunting partners form to get into position. The striped fae sank her teeth into the throat of the caribou, giving a little shake so that the blood would flow more quickly. In moments, the caribou was dead, its thrashing ceased to mere electrical jerks.

Lyre settled back, using some of the snow to clean the blood from her muzzle and chest. She didn't like being dirty if she could help it. "Well done," she complimented the other woman. "Food for the pack," she stated the obvious before delicately removing the innards from their kill. With it being lighter, they would easily be able to drag it back to the stores.

"Lyre"