Hattori was no fool, he knew that predators who were smart enough to circumvent the netting would come and go. Steal a fish or two and be off on their way. He didn't really have a problem with that sort of situation, it didn't make much of a dent on their overall fish intake. But the same couldn't be said for the predators who outstayed their welcome, those who either didn't want to leave or couldn't were a problem indeed, a problem that needed to be sorted sooner rather than later. Sea lions were talented fishers and one alone could easily decimate their fish stock population if left to its own devices. But fighting or cornering it in the water wasn't really an option, they were swift and agile, able to twist and dart in directions a wolf couldn't possibly dream of emulating.

But on land? Well, they weren't quite as sluggish or as slow as one might think, but it was at least more manageable.

Padding onto the sand, Hattori had been waiting for this moment, to catch the sea lion when it was at rest, having a snooze beneath the midday sun. It hadn't noticed his presence just yet, but should another wolf join him it certainly would.

"Speech"

It was safe to assume the boy was stalking following the Kaicho. As he slowly accumulated larger and larger prey or predator bodies, the boy became more confident. His legs were growing, his chest filling out, his jaw stronger. Spending most of his days training, he would confidently say that he was stronger than most of his siblings. Maybe not Erik... but he would prove it one day. So to help his training, he was spending the morning tagging along to wherever the Kaicho was headed. Surely a man as important as Hattori would come across an animal that needed to be driven out.

Akito's prayer would be answered as he lingered in the shadow of the bamboo that lined the bay's shore. The monochrome youngster was content to watch the Kaicho from the shadows until the lumbering view of a sea lion made that twinkle in his eye sparkle ever so slightly. A formidable opponent! Not wanting to appear too eager, Akito slipped from his cover of bamboo to make his way over to Hattori. His grey eyes turned up to the Kaicho for a brief moment before landing back down upon the sea lion. Its massive form of blubber and skin was slightly intimidating, but not unachievable. He could prove to be useful, he just knew it.

"speech"

Akito wasn't much like his sire and frankly, Hattori thought that was for the best. Punctual and diligent, the pup reminded him much of himself, or how he used to be at least when he'd been his age. Eager to learn. Hattori did not speak as they approached, remained quiet incase they ruined the element of surprise and instead gestured for Akito to go around, cut off the sea lion from the water. Thus, in turn making it much more difficult for the beast to slip away, where it would be difficult to follow. The sand crunched beneath his paws as he approached, direct and certain as he picked up the pace and kicked off into a sprint, sand spraying in his wake. The sea lion whipped around, baring its teeth, before thinking better of it as it began to crawl-though that word didn't really seem apt in Hattori's opinion-away. Except that Akito was already well in position and prepared, it would have to fight, they all knew it.

Akito preferred the silence. The fewer the words, the better. Life was simpler that way. There was no time or need for such nonsense as speaking. Which in a way, made him glad that Hattori was the same. Neight needed to utter a single word as he approached. He saw Hattori motion with his head for him to go around. His eyes move to where the water laps against the shore. Ah, yes. Cut the beast off from heading back into the bay. Made sense. A simple nod of his head in return before he kicks off and makes a wide circle around the sea lion. Water sprayed behind him as he pushed through the dense sand and waves. Coming up behind the sea lion, Akito braced himself as he watched Hattori approach from the other side. From how the sea lion was reacting, he could tell that the animal wasn't prepared for a fight. For all of its bellowing and grunting, Akito was not deterred. Instead, he stepped forward, head lowered and fur bristling as he pressed the sea lion toward Hattori. Whether the sea lion liked it or not, it would have to get through them if it wanted to live.

Hattori darted forward, only to have to lunge back when the sealion snapped at him with more force than he had first anticipated. He knew they had sharp teeth and weren't easy pickings by any means, but he'd never really fought such a creature before and thus his approach was built upon assumptions rather than outright knowledge and experience. But it was never too late to grow and learn and Hattori was quick to adapt, though perhaps not as quick on his paws as Akito was. The sea lion pressed the attack, dragged itself after Hattori, though maybe saying it dragged itself along made it sound sluggish. It was more of a gallop really, with flippers moving in tandem.

The beast was unlike anything he'd seen thus far. What he had assumed would be a sluggish creature was actually rather fast. His eyes widen in slight surprise to see the sea lion begin to gallop after Hattori. Both flippers flew up in tandem to slam back into the ground and propel him forward. Shit. He had to do something because now it seemed the Kaicho was target number one. Though he was young and still growing, he had gained some muscle and perhaps he could do something of use. With the sea lion's attention fully on the larger male, Akito lunges toward the side of the creature, tilting his forehead into the blubber. He feels his budding horns dig into the thick rubbery flesh for a moment before he pulls his head away. The startled yelp from the sea lion has it pulling up to a stop, twisting to face him, and barking loudly in his face. Spit flies at him as he pulls back and tries to hop over the sea lion's tail. Boy, that was a bad move. Suddenly the fan-like tail is hurdling up at him and causing him to fall and land on the sea lion's back.

Hattori grunted slightly as he watched the boy fumble and fall, though it wasn't entirely his fault and he had landed a solid blow in the process. Hattori moved in to offer support, skirting around to the side so he could make a lunge for its tail, his teeth digging into one of its hind flippers. He arched his back, yanking as hard as he could, aiming to give Akito time to resituate himself and to keep the sea lion under pressure and pain. Whether they killed the creature wasn't all that important to Hattori, if it yielded and left never to return he saw no need to kill it. But if it wished to fight to the death, then so be it.

"Speech"

As embarrassed as Akito wished to be, he knew he had no time for such silly feelings. He had made a miscalculation and that was only a part of learning. Mistakes would happen and he would take it in stride. From the corner of his eye, he sees Hattori press in and relieves the attention of the sea lion off of him unto himself. Slipping from the sea lion's back onto the sand, Akito twists around until he's on all four paws. Quickly, his eyes assess and search for a weak spot on the creature. Was it all blubber? Fully protected? That couldn't be so. Ah, dangerous, but the obvious place to go. Switching gears, Akito steps so that he is facing the front of the sea lion. Tucking his chin to his chest, he lunges in and jabs his horns in the animal's direction. Dead or alive, the beast had to make its choice now. Bleed out on the beach or return to the water.

The sea lion evidently wasn't stupid, it knew it had too much to lose that at the end of the day there were plenty of fish in the sea. That the Bay's easy pickings weren't worth dying over. It let out a hiss, whiskers twitching, blood seeping onto the sand. Hattori didn't know much about sea lion body language, did anyone, but he watched with narrowed silver eyes, noting how it was backing off, the aggression leaving its form with each drag of its flippers. The beast pulled itself into the water, making a point of swimming along the surface as it moved out of the bay, Hattori followed it along the shoreline and with a flick of his tail suggested Akito do the same. He was simply making a point, driving it home so it was undeniable, if it ever returned it out not receive this mercy. They had chosen to let it go, when they could have dragged it out of the water and ended its life here and now.

Only when it had passed over the netting and was now in unclaimed territory, did Hattori turn to Akito once more, quite pleased with his efforts today. If only his other siblings were so punctual.

"Inform Kuroo of this when you see him next." The bay was effectively the fisherwolf's domain, though if he needed help defending it he need only ask.