Nico was pleased as punch and ready to show off.  Hopefully, Jack would meet up with him soon.  Nico’s mouth was full and he’d like to put down the object without waiting too long.  The problem being once he put it down it would try to escape.  Nico had tried and failed to do this yesterday, that was why he’d brought a nest and egg.  Now he’d caught some small sort of brown ground bird.  Tricky enough to kill one!  Getting one alive and not killing it, now this was a trick!

This one was smaller than others he’d seen so it was probably really young and was likely the reason Nico had managed to catch it.  He was tired of keeping his mouth open like this though.  Hopefully, he could explain the idea to Jack fast as the pheasant wouldn’t give them a lot of time before it got some distance.  At least Nico assumed so.  He wasn’t sure how much it might have been injured when he caught it.  

"Niko"

The sun broke the horizon, painting the sky with vivid colors. As the darkness lifts, a small pup makes his way along the black sandy beach to a predetermined location. For the past several days, Calico Jack has met his friend, Nico, near the border and invites him inside to play. The patchwork pup kicks his legs up high as he trots toward the meeting area, hoping that his friend is already there and waiting. Part of him worries that, one day, he show up and the coyote pup will not be there.

Jack is not disappointed as he spies the coyote pup on the other side of the invisible barrier and his tail wags begins to wave. However, as he gets closer, the smaller pup slows, concern tugging at his features as a frown appears. Something about Nico is off… he seems to be holding his mouth weird… is he injured? Did something happen? Worriedly, Jack picks up the pace, all but shouting to his friend, “Nico! You okay? Do you need me to get the healer?!” Paws pull him up close to his friend, the pup skidding to a stop in front of Nico and sending small granules of the black sand flying. If his friend needs help, then Jack is ready to give it!


"Calico Jack"

Oh good.  Nico could see his colorful friend coming in his direction.  How the heck was he going to hunt when he was that colorful?  Well, guess he’d just be the sort to try and outrun things and not bother hiding?  How fast were wolves anyway?  Maybe they needed to race later!  Hopping on mice was good also.  Would Jack like mice?  

Nico watched Jack approach with such thoughts going through his head until he saw Jack suddenly look concerned.  Nico’s brow knit in confusion trying to understand what happened.  Then Jack asks him if he needs a healer.  Nico raises both brows in a bit of exaggerated surprise.  Hey, talking clearly through the bird was gonna be a trick.

“Iv find. Gaya a prsn’n.  ‘s fass. Wedde?”  I’m fine, got ya a present, and ready didn’t come out very clearly but oh well.  Nico lowered his head to drop the pheasant.  At first, it didn’t do much, apparently confused by the sudden change.

“Ther…”

Didn’t get to finish the first word, the little pheasant had picked itself up and was running across the beach.  Nico spoke in rushed words, “hunting lesson one, catch it!”  Tips might have been useful but there really wasn’t time.

"Niko"

As Calico stops in front of Nico, worriedly asking if his friend is okay, the pup does not miss the coyote’s brow knit together in confusion. As the words pass his lips, Nico’s brows suddenly raises in surprise and it was Jack’s turn to knit his brows together in confusion as his friend tries to speak. Hmm. He is fine and he has something and asks if Cal is ready. Still confused, the patchwork pup nods, signaling he is ready for… whatever Nico has in store.

Nico lowers his head, opening his mouth and spitting out a strange looking bird onto the sand. For a moment, the bird and Calico stare at each, both too shocked to do anything but size each other up. His friend goes to speak and the small bird gathers itself up and takes off across the beach. Jack’s brows shoot up and Nico’s rushed words take a moment to click in the stunned pup’s brain. Hunting lesson? But Cal does not hunt. He has never, ever run after a fleeing bird!

Icy blue gaze follows the bird and a grin appears on his lips. There is a first time for everything! Paws kick up black granules of sand as the Calico launches forward, the sudden burst of speed startling the bird that is already a good distance ahead of the pups. Legs churn as the enthusiastic pirate pup races after the bird, eager to catch it and see what he is supposed to do next!


"Calico Jack"

Nico imagines everyone needs to hunt.  The concept of having the option of hunting versus other jobs in a pack is a thing he’d never fathom.  Clearly, Jack was just too young to understand how important it is to be able to sustain oneself.

When the bird takes off running and Jack doesn’t right the same second Nico is rolling his eyes.  Thankfully before the eye roll has even completed Jack chases the bird.  Nico grins and follows after.  “Keep your eyes on it,” Nico hollers in an attempt to give a hunting lecture, “Don’t get distracted.” Nico had a hard time with distractions when he was young, which was of course, forever ago.

What other hints?  Nico wasn’t used to hunting on the sand to talk of sneaking up or hiding places.  The food was doing a straight-out run with flapping wings and despite how fast the pups were that bird seemed really good at running.  “Oh, and if ya get close enough to pounce, aim in front of it, not on it.” It seemed to increase the odds of getting it, cause the food would be gone if ya jumped where it had just been.

Nico wasn’t about to admit how many times he failed to catch a meal versus the number succeeded.  That part wasn’t important.  Trying and trying and trying was the important part.

"Niko"

Short legs race to catch up with the strange bird that Nico had brought, one ear swivels back to catch his friend’s pointers. Keep his eyes on it. Okay, done. Paws send the fine granules of obsidian flying where he passes and his eyes stay locked on the bird. Don’t get distracted? Jack almost opens his mouth to protest that Nico is distracting him when the fowl begins to flap its wings and gain more distance.

Eyes round in surprise and Jack is forced to run faster to try and catch the fleeing bird. They zig-zag across the beach and, every time he gets close, the crazy bird finds a way to slip further out of reach. A growl rumbles in his chest as he keeps his eyes locked on the target, head lowering as he pushes into the sand with all his might. Sand sprays as the boys’ race after the prey animal, Nico’s voice guiding the patchwork pup in his first hunt.


"Calico Jack"