Though it was against his every fiber of his being to allow such young children to hunt, he understood their enthusiasm and their desire to learn. After all, being his kin's children, they were incredibly driven, hard workers; he wouldn't deny their requests any longer to show them a proper hunt. After much pleading and inquiry, Usagi relented and arranged for a peaceful morning in which they could hunt. Faint trickles of raindrops pattered their heads as the Taicho gestured for the children to stay close to him, not letting a single one venture out of his sight. All he had to do was shoot them a sharp glare if any of them so much as had a glint of mischief in their eyes. He yearned to show them, above all, hunting was no silly game. It could be dangerous if one wasn't careful and aware of the dangers proceeding them. In the clearing amongst the twisted, gnarled roots of the trees towering above them, a singular okapi stood and peacfully chewed on some tall foliage sprouted around a tree trunk, blissfully unaware of the predators behind it. Usagi crouched down suddenly, beckoning for the children with him to do the same. "Stay low," He whispered. "If it sees or smells us, it will run." He allowed a few moments for the children to gather and understand his words, before gesturing with a tip of his snout towards the oblivious okapi. "I will tell each of you what to do. Listen carefully. Hunts are not a silly game." He waited for each child to listen. "Shinrei, you will help trip it over when we give chase. Snap at its legs. Kaizen, once it's down, you will help me keep it from standing up. Jiro, once it's unable to move, you will help deliver the killing blow." He'd never led a hunt for kids before, but he only hoped they wouldn't start running after it until he gave the okay. "Do not move until I say so. Understand?" ”Speech”  ’Thought’

Hunkering low, Kaizen listened to Usagi explain, his words clear and succinct. He didn't mind following his orders, Usagi felt like a big brother really and even if he wasn't, their Kaicho seemed to trust him a lot. So shouldn't Kaizen follow suit and do the same? The rain tip tapped against his pelt, he was of course used to the rain but it felt more intense out here in the Oaks, the canopy not quite as thick of that in the Maze.

Usagi clearly seemed to know what he was doing, and it was easy for Kaizen to trust in his expertise. As long as everyone played their part that okapi would fall to their teeth. He nodded quickly, not wanting to speak-felt more serious that way- but obviously still needed to confirm that he understood the part he had to play in the hunt.

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Jiro being Jiro, he had been the pup to receive the most glaring glares from Usagi during their walk through the forest. Piercing eyes daring him to wander again kept the young pup in line with multiple eye rolls and heavy sighs. Making sure he would get enough splashing in puddles along the way, he was quickly hushed as they came upon the Okapi.

Lowering himself down beside Usagi, he listens to the words his older brother speaks. His pale gaze lingering on Usagi as the older boy explains what each of their jobs would be in taking down the Okapi. Nodding that he understands, he looks back to the peaceful animal that chews on shoots that grow around the gnarled tree. The animal is massive compared to their puppy sizes, but if Usagi was certain they could take it down, he wasn't going to doubt their abilities.

Shinrei wasn't about to turn away this opportunity. He greatly respected Usagi -- Hattori mentioned he was a fierce fighter and a hard worker, capable of much and to be treated with dignity. Thus, he trusted him wholeheartedly in their abilities to take down the okapi they were all eyeing in the midst of the massive oak trees. He stayed close to the flop-eared wolf's side, listening to his directions. He was tasked with tripping it over once they gave chase -- yeah, he could do that. An herbivore downed without its legs to steady it made it much easier to kill, indeed.

He nodded, staying close to his brothers and the elder sibling as he awaited Usagi's signal.

One could argue that the okapi was too large for a band of puppies to take down -- Usagi would beg to differ. He picked this okapi for a reason; it was significantly smaller than the average animal of its species, and when he had tracked it prior to inviting the pups, he noticed it carried a small limp in its hind leg, watching it shift uncomfortable on its feet as it grazed. It certainly wouldn't survive even a few lengths of running, and if anything even seemed to be getting out of hand, Usagi would be quick to step in with his blade. He mainly wanted the pups to gain experience in tracking, chasing, and killing, but he would maintain control over each and every step. Nobody would get hurt under his watchful eye. "NOW!" He said sternly, launching off his hind legs with stamina and power. The okapi perked its ears, saw him, and attempted to gallop away; but as he suspected, its obvious limp made it quite slow. It was a ridiculously easy target for him, but enough of a challenge for the pups. It even went at a pace manageable for all of them. Now for each of them to make a move -- based on the instructions he had given, Shinrei sprinted forward and swiped out a forepaw, forcing the okapi to trip and collapse onto its side. It brayed, attempting to get up, but to no avail. Now it was time for the other pups to make a move. ”Speech”  ’Thought’

Rushing into motion, Kaizen knew what he had to do. It sounded easy enough, but Kaizen suspected it would be a task that wouldn't be quite so easily managed in practice when compared to theory. He moved to keep pace, paws thudding as he ran, noticing that its gait wasn't quite as he imagined it to be. As though it was shying away from putting too much weight on one hoof, was that why Usagi had chosen it?

Regardless, he did his best to bide his time, be patient till it was his time to strike.  Kaizen, once it's down, you will help me keep it from standing up, those words rang in his head, both as a reminder and a mantra. That he had to do anything in his powe to keep it down. The okapi landed hard, the thud reverberated up through Kaizen's paws, and he lunged forward quickly, scrambling to haul his body weight atop of it. It was easier said than done to keep the struggling beast pinned, even knocked down it put up a fight, kicking and struggling to use its neck to give it leverage to haul itself back up onto its feet.

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Jiro would not let his brothers down! Readying himself, focusing as much seriousness as he could muster, he nearly startled when Usagi called out in a stern voice. Now? Oh! Now! Leaping forward, paws scrambling beneath him, trying to gain purchase, Jiro veers off to the side. Remembering what Usagi told him specifically, he didn't want to get in the way.

Stretching his long legs to practically gallop ahead of his brothers, Jiro aligned himself with the neck and shoulder area of the injured Okapi. The creature stumbles itself, triggered by the fear of four wolves chasing after it - even if three of them were only puppies. Patiently waiting for his brothers to take it down, Jiro tries his best to push ahead, keep his stamina up, test how much endurance he truly has. Meanwhile, his neck snakes toward the lumbering animal, jaws snapping and teeth clacking at its front hooves to urge it forward, to tire it out even more.