Out. Jael needs to be out, just for a little bit. She needs to not catch the tumbleweeds of feathers in the corner of her gaze, a reminder of how short she'd fallen. Of how it had been for nothing. A hard lump in her throat, but she'd done enough fucking moping. Trying to overshadow a bad mood with work and work alone-- would she be Jael if she didn't?

Work. Putting herself to work, finding a job. Jael's attention had turned from chickens to rabbits, not having the heart to deal with birds again for the time being. Right. Well, better go out there and trap herself some test subjects right?

Checking the previous day's traps was a good excuse to get out. Away, for now. It's as her gaze fixes on a trap that's filled with a large, live hare, Jael is caught off guard. While she was prepared for a ground predator, she's not expecting one from the air.

Three Harris's Hawks, initially intent on the sitting rabbit on the trap, descend upon the wolfdog instead. Talons at her shoulder, the scruff of her neck. A snarl ripping free from her chest as Jael lashes out-- we're all out of flight. Only fight today.

A disturbance. An unexpected scene. A… canine of sorts, more dog than wolf, their fur a mix of earthy tones and spotting, fending off a flurry of wings, three massive hawks intent on making the stranger their prey. Intrigued by the unusual sight, Caedes paused to observe, his emerald eyes narrowing with interest. The wolfdog fought with tenacity, snapping and lunging at the airborne predators. But despite their best efforts, the hawks continued to swoop and dive, their sharp talons glinting in the sunlight as they sought to overwhelm their lone adversary.

For a moment, Caedes hesitated, weighing the risks of intervening in the chaotic skirmish. But then, a thrill of excitement coursed through him – a challenge unlike any he had faced before. Winged opponents, a test of skill and strategy. Really, pushing himself was all he was good for, wasn’t it? With a low growl, Caedes launched himself into the fray, his movements fluid as he joined the wolfdog in their struggle against the hawks.

He leaped upwards, catching one of the hawks by the outstretched leg and throwing it to the ground behind him, stunning it.

"speaking"

She isn't alone for long. A male, large and dark-- but making out more than that would have to wait. Friend or fiend, it seemed like he was helping more than hurting. Adrenalized, Jael needed to worry about the real threat before the potential. The flurry of wings, feathers, talons, claws, there's all so much. A stinging pain at her scruff, and the beating of wings around her face. Fuck dude. With a snarl, Jael reaches up, finally able to find purchase in a leg.

Pecking at her face, the girl ends up fighting with her eyes closed against it. Growling and grumbling, teeth digging into the creature's leg with a snarl. Heart pounding in her chest, but birds are fragile. Hollow bones. Using the limb, Jael takes the massive hawk and slams it hard into the ground. One down, her attention turns to the individual that's descended at her shoulder once more.

Caedes watched the unnamed woman finally take hold of one of her attackers, slamming it brutally into the ground. No smirk or smile graced his features, no, his face remained cold and calculating as he returned his focus to the bird he’d thrown. Better get it properly taken care of, right? It was flapping now, trying to stand, but he would scarcely let it. With a surge of power forward of his muscular body, he took the hawk’s neck into his maw, its throat managing to make some sort of choked noise before he snapped his teeth down. It was so simple, like biting into a rabbit, it’s bones giving way in a satisfying way. Having killed it, Caedes dropped it in favor of returning back to the slowly resolving fray.

"speaking"

Panting. Heart pounding in her chest. Jael can feel the warmth of blood dripping down the side of her face, can feel it streak down her cheek. Pain dulled for now, though the crushing of bone registers somewhere dully off to the side. Hollow. Bird bones. Talons digging into her hip, Jael gives a yelp, a whimper.

Sharply, she turns. Grabbing the bird at her hip, dislodging the one on her scruff and sending it staggering backwards, at least into some sort of retreat. Her jaws close around the midsection of her target, though retaliatory talons rake across the point of her shoulder.

Whimpering around the raptor, it doesn't matter. Jael doesn't let up. Chomping, fighting to maintain her grip, the girl gets her paws up in front of her. One wing pinned to the ground, the wolfdog finishes the screaming predator off as the final attacker descends for her shoulder once more.

He is sauntering back to her as he watches, blood is streaking down her face, pain erupting her her mouth. Caedes is not one to enjoy suffering, so as she dispatches one and another comes for her shoulder once more -- he lunges. The massive brute swiftly takes the bird, it's claws outstretched for her and never reaching their target as he wrestles it's flapping frantic body to the ground. His jaws crush, they merciless they strip the hawk of it's life. Caedes releases, feathers annoyingly sticking to his tongue as he laps at them in an effort to dislodge the troublesome things.

One his struggle with the unwanted plumage is done, he turns to the girl, emeralds roving over her injuries in a detached, clinical manner.

"speaking"

As she dispatches the second, the strange man takes on the last. He's methodical, practiced. Massive, enough to make Jael nervous. No, if he wanted to hurt her, he would have done it. A knife fight between anxiety and reason, what else is new? Shoulders heaving, trying her best to conceal the trembling in her tired muscles, Jael is finally free of them. Why did it have to be birds? A toss of her head, a rivulet of blood slipping down her brow-- of course. Right. Birds, talons, all that.

"Thank you." Jael finally speaks, taking stock of the situation. "Rabbit in the trap is yours, for your trouble." There were plenty more, and Jael was more than happy to re-bait that one and keep moving.

Caedes regarded her with an aloof, appraising gaze as she offered him the rabbit in the trap as thanks for his assistance. He took in the rivulet of blood trickling down her brow, the fatigue evident in the tension of her muscles – the lingering unease in her demeanor. But he didn’t think much of it all.

With a subtle nod of acknowledgment, Caedes accepted her gesture of gratitude, his expression remaining impassive all the while. He was no stranger to the harsh realities of survival, and understood the importance of mutual aid at times. Not all his kin were of a like mind, but he digressed. "The rabbit will suffice," He replied evenly, his voice a low rumble. "Consider it a debt repaid." With that, Caedes turned to inspect the rabbit in the trap, his movements exact as he approached it. He wasted no time in removing it from the trap and dispatching it, his actions swift and precise as he prepared to leave.

[exit caedes]

"speaking"