Kichi climbed up the mountainside looking for his prey.  Now that it was summer the chill wasn’t as bad but it was still chilly.  Kichi normally didn’t bother hunting on the mountain but then again he normally didn’t see signs of the Dall sheep so close to the bottom part of the mountain.  

Kichi wouldn’t have to climb too high up nor the path be quite as tricky as it got up in the higher territory.  Soon enough he turned a corner and there it was.  The dall sheep looked older than some, larger but it also seemed to move slower.  Whether it was lucky or better at surviving than its friends today it would die.  Perhaps that was why it was so much lower.  Maybe his friends were done with the old guy.

"Kichi"

Terra and Lotus have been traveling, exploring the world to her heart’s content. They had bedded down in the shadow of a huge mountain and of course the earthen girl has to go climb it. Long legs effortless find paw-holds as she moves, the girl trusting her body to stay upright as she goes. The smell of sheep reach the girl’s nose and she decides to try hunting them.

Luckily, the creatures are close to the bottom of the mountain and she finds a path that will lead her to where the sheep are. Black lined toes carry her forward toward the prey and Kichi, who appears just around a bend. Emerald eyes slide over to the gray male and she dips her head in greeting as she softly says, “Plan?” Today she would follow his lead and she looks to him for guidance.


"Terra Qilaq"

Kichi watches the sheep thoughtfully but then help comes along to make things easier.  A one worded question was the best sort.  She’d helped him on one hunt but Kichi had no problem distrusting almost everyone.  Most likely it was fine though, she’d been alright last time so might as well work with her again.  “Go take the path to the left, get around behind it.  You can chase it right to me.”

This should be a fairly simple meal as far as Kichi imagined.  The path was pretty narrow at times and sheep were dumb enough to do who knew what but since this one was older and there were two of them, what could go wrong?  Kichi kept a careful eye on the sheep even as his other eye watched the wolf to see if she’d agree.  He hadn’t asked her name last time and he didn’t bother with it now either.  They would hunt together, get a share of the food and then be done.

"Kichi"

Terra approaches the gray wolf, recognition flashing in his eyes as he looks to her. He tells her the plan and the earthen girl nods in understand, immediately heading to a path that branches off on the left side. Dark lined toes pull her down the winding the path, depositing her behind the unsuspecting sheep. The one they target seems old for its kind and its luck will run out today.

Trusting that the gray male is ready, Terra sprints forward to startle the few sheep that linger on the path. The younger ones immediately fleeing toward a rocky path that ascends the side of the mountain while the older, slowly sheep turns down the pathway and flees. Unbeknownst to the prey, it is racing toward its end as Kichi awaits them… just around the corner.


"Terra Qilaq"

Kichi steps back a bit further on the trail, careful of his footing.  With a bit of thought, he then moves sideways a notch, offering an opening for the sheep to run straight by him when the time comes.  It should be the best path for the sheep of Kichi is thinking through it right.  It will be a fake opening that Kichi will be ready to spring on the moment Terra runs the old sheep past him.

Old as it was, to survive so long Kichi imagined it had found ways of avoiding deadly situations in the past.  Would it be any harder than normal prey or just a quick meal where luck had been the only thing going for the sheep before?  His attention turned towards where he’d sent Terra, a small nod if the wolf is looking to show Kichi is ready for the fun to begin.

"Kichi"

Running is what Terra is built for, what she loves to do. So, whenever her hunting partners need a runner, the earthen girl offers herself. Long legs fall into an easy pace, keeping the old sheep running without forcing him to deviate. In the end, their pace is slower than if she had been chasing something younger and the girl idly wonders if the gray wolf will still be waiting for them.

The path jogs and the duo follow it, Terra moving slightly forward to snap at a back leg. Yes, she is still back there and yes, she is still chasing it. The corner that separates where Kichi waits for them finally comes into view and the earthen girl snaps one more time at a leg before slowing down slightly. This is the sheep’s end.


"Terra Qilaq"

Kichi waits, not patiently but he waits. He can hear claws and hooves hitting stone and ice as they get closer. Then they are in sight and only a moment later Kichi launches himself forward, intercepting the sheep. Kichi’s jaws grasp into the animal’s throat, a front leg wrapping over the neck to help use its own momentum to pull it down.

Thanks to Terra chasing it right to him the game was completely rigged and the sheep falls over, blood already pooling out of its throat where Kichi bit it. The wolf takes several more quick bites, the pool of blood quickly growing around it.

The legs had kicked for a bit, and fear had shown in its eyes but with each passing moment, the signs of life faded. Food was served.
"Kichi"