The day is warm but in a pleasant way. Tove has lived through the harshest winters and hottest summers, so for it to be ‘pleasant’ seems like a rare and strange phenomenon. However, with the nice weather comes an abundance of prey animals. The older woman scents the air again, making sure she does not lose track of the small herd of bison she has been tracking.

A gentle breeze brings their unmistakable smell to her nostrils and Tove cannot help but smile. If she can take down a young one, there will be plenty of meat to take back to the pack to help fill the stores for the upcoming party. She is careful as she stalks after them, staying downwind and scenting the air often.

Tove comes upon the herd in an open area where crumbling stone pillars stick out of the ground like broken teeth. Hunkering down in some tall grass, the wolf’s duel-toned eyes scan the group, picking out several young bison. Now she just needs to figure out how to bring one down by herself…


"Tove Baade"

Kichi wouldn’t have expected a herd of bison to pass by so close to his home.  Home.  It was still an odd word in his mind and potentially always would be one.  Despite the fact Kichi was improving in his hunting skills there was no chance he could take down a bison alone.  With the adults around even a young one alone was just asking for trouble.

Kichi spots, barely, in the grass a color that doesn’t belong there.  It’s moving and as he gets closer he spots the other odd colors that mark the hidden form as Tove.  Kichi moves over, quietly sliding through the grass and giving her a nod to show he’s ready to join in.  Kichi slid in close, “I can separate them again.”  She spotted them first, he’d let her decide who took on which role but the offer was there.

"Kichi"

Tove is so focused on making a plan that she misses the approach of Kichi. A small smile appears as he settles into the grass next to her, duel-toned eyes easily sliding over to the younger male. He offers to separate him again and she bobs her head in thought before looking back toward the herd. Yes, that might work but Kichi has more heft to him then the scarred woman. When the time comes it would be best for him to deliver the killing blow.

Looking back to the gray male, Tove speaks softly so her rough tones don’t carry too far and says, “That sounds good. I’ll chase it toward that area where the stones make a natural funnel. You take the killing blow when I get it down. Good?” She winces, her throat hurting from saying so much but it is necessary for the plan. Once Kichi signals he is good with the plan, Tove returns her attention to the herd and slowly moves forward.

A pointed glance is all the warning Kichi gets before Tove is off and racing. She moves to separate the young bison closest to the area the scarred woman had pointed out, carefully steering it away from the adults as she runs.


"Tove Baade"

Tove agrees and it's only a moment later before she nods and rushes off.  Kichi follows up a stride after, pushing himself forward to catch up and even try to move ahead of her so that he can keep the herd in line before they can follow after Tove and the young bison she would be separating.  Bison were not as easy to push around as deer and they proved that quickly.

Kichi lunged in to snap at the air near one and its response was to lower its head and lunge a step closer to Kichi.  The wolf had to leap quickly sideways and back.  Before he could snarl at that bison in response he spotted two more further down trying to follow Tove as she broke away with the youngling.  Kichi ran forward snapping at one’s leg.  He sensed the other bison that charged him and Kichi had to spin around, showing off his fangs to have a standoff with the bison.  Yet another was still trying to separate!  Kichi charged in, again snapping and again having to avoid another attack.

It was a never-ending back and forth of nearly getting trampled and trying to stare them down.  Once Tove was far enough away and the bison herd at least hadn’t trampled past him to follow Kichi turned around to run after Tove himself.  Glancing behind he saw the herd wasn’t following, a nod to himself even as he ran to catch up to Tove

"Kichi"

Tove rushes from their hiding place, putting on a burst of speed as she moves toward her targeted prey. Logic slams into her and she slows down so Kichi can catch up and pass her, allowing him to take on the herd as they had planned. The youthful prey is inexperienced and, when it sees snapping jaws, is quick to flee. All she has to do is show it the way to run and the young bison easily follows.

With a few quick adjustments, Tove is able to run the bison straight for the predesignated area, separating it more and more from any help. Out of the corner of her eye, she sees Kichi’s gray form approaching and the older wolf begins the work to bring it down. Teeth flash as she snaps at a back leg, grabbing hold and twisting her head.

A resounding ‘SNAP’ fills the area as the bones break and joints pop. With a cry of pain, the young bison pitches forward, tumbling into the dirt and grass. Racing forward, Tove moves to pin any flailing legs.


"Tove Baade"

Tove surprisingly gets the young bison down alone.  Once down the fight certainly wasn’t out of it though.  Sure, it was small for a bison and less filled in but that hardly meant the young creature couldn’t do damage.  Young or not the creature had some powerful muscles and strong hooves.  Tove worked on keeping it down and the panicked hooves from finding their way to kichi.

The grey wolf latched his teeth to the underside of its neck, tearing it open with a bush of blood coming out.  That should be enough to kill it fast but Kichi bit in again, making sure its death was as soon as possible for the sake of its thrashing.  The blood pooled quicker and turned a deeper shade of red.  It’s lifeblood was draining and its legs were quickly growing still.

"Kichi"