Kotori left the boundaries of Valta behind him as he traveled with Ochi into the Redbud Nook.  When he had first seen the Nook it had already been claimed by another pack but as normal time had changed things.  No one owned the nook now and its bright colorful trees really stuck out in comparison to other trees Kotori had seen.  The scent of rain was thick in the air, along with dense gray clouds fat with potential rain.

The scent of bear had been spotted to close to home and it didn’t take to long on crossing the border to spy the bear.  Too close to his land indeed.  It was a burly male, with a freshly killed fawn between its large paws.  
The bear gave off a threatening roar to tell them to back off.  Kotori took two strides closer to show how little he cared for the bear's attempt to be threatening.

“Would you like another pelt?” The words were said with some humor as he watched the bear as it seemed to be struggling to decide if it would rather charge the wolves and chase them away or keep eating until the wolves got closer.  

"Kotori Fatalis"

Their journey together had been one of bonding. Kotori had accompanied the former royalty back to her homeland where she collected a second katana. In her flight, she had left her own sword behind, taking her father's instead. Now that she had both, Ochitsuki left her homeland behind. There was nothing there that she needed or wanted. Her future stood beside her in tones of earthen brown.

As Ochi and Kotori moved through the forest of red trees, both wolves caught the scent of bear. Their gazes met and they moved forward in tandem. Kotori spoke, offering Ochitsuki another pelt and the woman chuckled, her mismatched gaze bright and mischievous. Their time together had opened the fae up, making her less stiff and formal, but only with Kotori himself. Ochi nodded in response. "There will never be enough pelts."

The monochromatic fae moved forward, her side brushing against that of the horned brute before she cut to the side so that they flanked the bear on either side. It would be best to divide its attention between the pair of them. They could harry the beast until they picked it to pieces. Ochi picked up her pace, darting in and out to place nips and bites along the flanks of the grizzly. The pelt would have little holes all over it, but it would still be good.

"Ochitsuki"

Kotori’s lip twitched with a pleased grin as he felt Ochi brush past him.  There was so much satisfaction in finally having the woman he had waited to find for so long.  Not only was she beautiful, not only was she of royal bloodlines but she could also fight!  She was bold and brave and now they’d get to have a bit of fun.

Kotori strode in, making a final lunge to attack the bear just as Ochi was doing the same.  The bear had of course now realized its mistake.  Its meal was left forgotten as it swung its head in both directions trying to roar at the two wolves.  A muscled arm was thrown at Kotori but the bear's attention was so divided the aim was poor.  Kotori easily avoided the attack, biting the wrist of the bear as the arm pulled away.  He didn’t bother holding on though.

Kotori moved towards the bear's back leg, slashing twin gashes open with his horns before biting into one of the gashes in a smooth follow-up.  Unfortunately, the bear wasn’t ready to keep still to let Kotori keep the bite going long.

"Kotori Fatalis"

Ochitsuki and Kotori worked in tandem, coming at the bear from either side so that it's attention wasn't on one or the other for too long. They had hunted together during their travels and of course they'd run across predators, so they knew fairly well what the other was capable of.

Ochi had left her sword behind today, opting instead for comfort and easy travel. It was fine. She didn't need her weapon to kill and, knowing that Kotori was here with her, she felt even more confident. The earthen man had proven that he was reliable and that she was important to him. He was a protector and she knew that she fell under his protection.

Skirting around the far side of the bear, the monochromatic fae took advantage of Kotori's bite to the back of the bear's leg. Her teeth sank into the tender flesh behind one elbow and she whipped her head back and forth until blood flowed, staining the pristine white of her coat.

"Ochitsuki"

Ochi and Kotori had shared in enough battles and this bear would end no different.  The two wolves would live, and the bear would be a new pelt for colder days.  Oh, this time was different.  They’d also get the bears kill if they wanted it.  

Blood sprayed and Ko felt the shift as the bear’s balance waivered with the two injured legs.  The horned wolf took the opportunity to leap on the bears back, causing it to stumble worse, the back led sliding out, and its weight going to the two good legs to attempt to get up.  Kotori’s teeth bit into the top of the bear's neck.  The animal roared in protest.  Was that a note of fear in it now?  

They had it down.  It wouldn’t take them long to finish it now.

"Kotori Fatalis"

The bear roared, spinning and pulling Ochi along with it. Its teeth almost snapped down upon the woman, but she released her hold and spun away. It then turned its attention back to Kotori, curling to the side since he was attacking its back end. That was what she needed.

As the ursine turned, it left the side of its big throat exposed. Ochitsuki ducked, coming up beneath the edge of the bears jaw. Teeth slid into its flesh and the power of her jaws pinched down on its windpipe, cutting off its breath. The bear struggled, shaking its head and trying to trample the woman, but Kotori's hold on its leg kept it from being able to rise and bring its weight down upon her.

"Ochitsuki"

With Ochi having a hold of the bear's windpipe all Kotori had to do was keep the bear from being able to harm her.  He kept the bear from getting to its feet and it was quickly getting easier as the bear’s strength faded.  Eventually, it quit moving altogether.  

“There we are.  Not bad, most the areas we bit it won’t be overly obvious once it’s skinned and tanned.”  Kotori turned his attention from the bear to Ochi, an inhale of breath he scented the air, confirming all the blood was the bear’s and no wolf blood mixed in it.  

Kotori stepped over closer to Ochi, licking a bit of blood from her muzzle.  “We could use a bath later,” not that it was fully necessary but it sounded nice and they’d be passing across a perfectly good spot on the way home later.   “Valta needs more land,” a key reason they had come to this spot finally being mentioned, “I thought you might like this place?  As far as necessities of pack it certainly offers good land for easy prey and room for dens.”

"Kotori Fatalis"