They were at it again. Coran had formed a quick friendship with Jynn over their shared interest in hunting and the duo agreed to travel together on a long hunting trip. A hunting trip that extended all the way into Auster. They skirted around pack boundaries and into a lush green area dotted with trees and a river run through that had been blocked up by a beaver dam. It seemed a good place to set up camp and that was the original plan til his caracal companion came racing back with news of wounded prey. A lone gaur bull was down a little ways past the dam. They decided it wouldn't hurt to have a meal before setting up camp.

Coran slunk forward through the brush, the trees humming above him as the wind rustled their leaves. Ahead he could see the gaur laying down in a patch of shrubs. Its head extended above the shrubs and he eyed the horns nervously. He knew what a guar was but had never dared hunt one before.

Come down, come down sweet reverence

Jynn bounded along after Coran as they headed southward. She'd been planning to head this way at the end of the season so it worked in her favor to start scouting it out early. Spring had arrived in Auster. The air damp from the frequent rains. When they arrived at the dam Jynn set about looking for a good spot to make camp, some place dry that could withstand the rain and was also far enough back from the river to be less of a flooding risk. She found a fallen aspen whose lifted roots seemed like a good spot. She'd been just about to start digging when Coran's companion came back with a prey opportunity. A guar?

She stalked after Coran through the trees and bit back a gasp when she finally saw the creature. Heck that was big! She could smell the blood but couldn't see the injury. With no idea how severe it was she hesitated to go after something that looked like it could squash her so easily.

Things at home had been… tense. The castle was shrouded in a palpable heaviness, an unspoken weight that all of their packmates could feel weighing down on their backs. Conversations, once easy and free now felt strained, words laden with an underlying sense of unease. Father was in his armory more often than not, guests were coming in and out of the pack lands, and tension was rising. Truthfully, Clove hadn’t paid much attention to the world of politics until now; because this shift in her home transpired after the overtaking of Norad. Undeniably, Clove was carrying a sense of unease and apprehension lately; somewhat afraid of the world around her, and what it was turning into. Plagued by a sense of impending doom, the feeling that something sinister was looming on the horizon, but she couldn’t put her paw on it. And yet, interweaved with the uncertainty and doubt, was curiosity. What could drive a group of wolves to act so maliciously? It made her mind spin, truly- she just couldn’t fathom having the will to destroy someone’s home without a single care. These thoughts lingered in the depths of her consciousness, churning her mind in relentless patterns. And they were the driving factor for her midday journey to The Aspen Dam, where Norad used to be. The pack that took over was gone thankfully, which meant Clove could do some looking around, wanting to investigate any clues or indicators of a motive. Coming around a bend, she nearly bumps into a large white male; a bashful and astonished expression washing over her face, as she skids to a stop. “Oh! Sorry!” She says, immediately apologizing. As she looks up at him, noticing a woman at his side, she can’t help but catch the predatory gleam in his eyes; one she knew all too well. We’re they about to hunt? "Speech"

Traveling beneath a canopy of a flourishing, springtime forest, Azoula is slinking and and out of the shadows. The earth-striped fur blending seamlessly with the surrounding foliage, muscles rippling beneath her sleek coat. Her shoulders rolling forward with each step, a testament to her powers and predatory ease. Every movement deliberate and calculated, padding silents through the underbrush, in search of her prey.

A gaur was in the area; a large bovine beast, whose flavor profile was just what Azoula was craving. That beefy richness that coats the tongue, succulent and tender, with the right amount of fat marbled throughout. Lacking that gamey taste woodland prey usually had. Her claws were ready to unsheathe at the thought of it.

Honing in, Azoula is met with the scent of wolves, making her nostrils quiver, snout crinkling in a sublet notion of disgust. Damn dogs. Despite her musings, she’d use the opportunity to make the kill more efficient, changing her course to approach the growing group with palpable interest. The gaur was close by, bedded down in the underbrush, awaiting its death.

Which of these wolves would take the initiative and lead the hunt?

"Azoula Davati"

This was dangerous. Coran was starting to doubt going after the gaur for the pair of them would have a terrible time and this beast looked particularly dangerous. He was drawn immediately out of his thoughts as a yearling rounded the bend and nearly ran right into him. He flinched at her exclamation for now the gaur looked up and over at their direction. Coran held still. So did the gaur. Thankfully it seemed to go back to eating. "Ah, it's alright," Coran spoke softly. "We are trying to hunt that gaur laying down over there. You are welcome to join us if you like."

Before he could say more he froze once again upon seeing a dark-pelted tigress emerge. She did not attack but instead looked at the wolves expectantly. Ah, of course. The gaur's blood was bound to attract other predators. Well, it was a large creature and Coran and Jynn were hunting only for the meal, there was more than enough to share. Coran dipped his head in respectful greeting. "If you can get to the far side of the gaur, we will drive it toward you."

Come down, come down sweet reverence

Jynn heard the girl approach, her large ears flicking back but apparently Coran had not for the two nearly ran into each other. Jynn stifled the urge to giggle, instead turning her focus back to the injured gaur. It didn't seem keen to move just yet, probably still considering itself hidden. Coran invited the yearling to join them and Jynn shot the girl a friendly smile.

While she had heard the girl she barely picked up on the tiger before the massive cat was right there. Jynn tensed, her hackles raising for a moment before realizing the tigress was likely there to hunt the gaur, not them. Coran spoke and laid out a simple plan. It sounded good to her. There was no question the tiger was the strongest of the group and Jynn was better suited to herding and harassing, not damage.

The male was startled by her sudden appearance, and rightfully so; he even flinched when she almost stumbled into him, though his attention seemed to shift somewhere else right away. Clove’s gaze followed his, settling on a nearby clearing; and within the clearing, was a massive bovine creature looking in their direction. Clove froze, her body growing stiff out of reflex; like a deer in headlights, as prayed she hadn’t alerted his prey and scared it off. But the gaur settled and started grazing, and Clove released a little rush of air. Turning back to Coran, she couldn’t help but give him apologetic puppy eyes. He said it was alright, but she still felt a little guilty. “A gaur?” She’d whisper, keeping her voice down. Her head cocking inquisitively to the side, as she peered up at the large man. “I’d love to help in any way I can.” The thrill of a hunt was alluring, yes, but she also felt compelled to help out, since she’d almost ruined their hunt. Before they could move on, Clove felt a shift in the atmosphere; the alarming aura of an apex predator triggering her senses, heightening them as her pelt started to bristle out of reflex. Turning, she’s faced with a massive tigress, and instinctively she gravitates towards Coran and Jynn, fear evident in her features. Were they going to be attacked? But the feline didn’t make any sudden moves; in fact, her body language suggested she wanted to join the hunt. Coran invited the tigress to join them, and admittedly, Clove was apprehensive at first. She hadn’t interacted with an apex predator before. Staying close to the other wolves, Clove waited for Azoula to slink off before she relaxed a bit. Then, she readied herself for Coran’s signal, excited to be on the chasing front, and not the attacking team.   "Speech"

My, were these wolves on edge; their bodies growing tense, pelt’s bristling out of reflex, as they readied themselves to become her prey. But Azoula had no intention of hunting the wolves; why would she, when she could use them as pawns? Still, she was flattered by their sense of alarm; a low trill sounding in her throat, as she watched the male wolf take the lead of their impromptu hunting team.

Of course, she’s assigned the role of lead ambusher; she was the best equipped after all, given she had larger teeth and claws, and feline agility. Nodding her head in agreement, she wastes no time gravitating to the underbrush, sinking into a slow, stalking position until she vanishes from sight. Moving to the far side of the gaur, she takes her position and lays in wait.  

"Azoula Davati"

The yearling eagerly agreed to help and while the cat said nothing he could gather she was ok with the plan for she slunk off into position. He had to admit he admired the grace with which she moved. Coran waited patiently until he was sure the cat was in position, his augur buzzard letting out a piercing call before landing nearby in a tree. The sound and movement immediately caught the gaur's attention as it lifted its head to eye the bird. Did it think the vulture was waiting for it to drop?

Coran took advantage of the distraction to start slinking forward, carefully positioning himself opposite the tigress with the gaur between them. Once again his pelt melted into the autumn grasses as he moved closer and closer to their prey, he kept an ear out for the others and once he felt they were in position he darted forward. Coran snarled loudly and the startled gaur stumbled to its feet. However, it didn't run right away, instead it twisted around, head sweeping low as it tried to gore him. Coran danced out of the way and bit into the gaur's hind leg. The beast bellowed, twisting around again.

Coran shifted his fangs to the tail, doing his best to heckle the beast forward. Eventually with the work of the wolves the gaur turned to run. It bolted first off to the left but Coran swiftly got in front of the beast, steering it back on track toward the tiger.

Come down, come down sweet reverence

Jynn was eager to get started and the excitement smothered any misgivings about the tiger. Personally she felt glad to have such a large predator on this hunt. Once Coran started stalking forward, Jynn ducked down and did as well, heading off to the right to help block the gaur from racing that way. Not that she was all that formidable but she hoped between the three of them they could get it running.

Coran burst from the brush and Jynn followed suit, letting out a whoop as she headed toward the gaur. "Whoa!" She yelled, just avoiding the horns that came sweeping around. Coran went for a hind leg and Jynn snapped for the face of the gaur, using her agility to keep away from the horns. Agitated and overwhelmed the gaur eventually started to run. Jynn took up her position to keep it from going to far the right and ran it right toward the tigress.

With an excited nod, Clove signaled her readiness to Coran and Jynn, gravitating closer to them in case the tiger decided not to cooperate. Eventually, it slunk off into the underbrush and Clove released a little huff of relief. That tiger was scary! Shaking the thought from her head, she turns her attention back to the wolf pair, falling in line behind Coran as they start to stalk their way through the underbrush. They created a circle around the gaur, and she waited for Coran to initiate the chase before she leaped out from her hiding place. He was snarling at the beast, avoiding its sweeping horns with only inches to spare. For a moment, fear rippled through Clove's body, hesitation evident in her stance as she considered turning back. No! She needed to be tough! Steeling herself, Clove prepared to attack by veering off in the opposite direction as Jynn, lunging at the gaur’s shoulder as it whirled around to run away from them. Turning on her heels, Clove chases after the gaur, snapping at its hocks and helping Coran and Jynn herd to towards the tigress. She'd snarl and bark, biting at the air and keeping the beast running. Her job was to chase, after all, and she’d do a good job at it!   "Speech"

Laying in wait, Azoula watches from her vantage point as the three wolves erupt from the sidelines, startling the guar and grappling with it. Her rounded ears are perked forward, whistlers twitching with focus as she gauges the distance between herself and the group. She’s not surprised by the beast’s resistance- it tries to gut the male wolf, sweeping its massive horns in his direction before the orange female intercepts and grabs it by the face. The tigress is enthralled by the violence, that predatory itch festering inside of her. Bring it to me. Her tail is flicking back and forth, claws extending from their sheaths, poised and ready to sink into flesh.

And then, the gaur is running in her direction, being herded by the wolves like the good dogs they are. She prepares to pounce, coiling her strength in her powerful hind legs. And when the time is right, she launches herself through the air in an explosive motion, her body arching gracefully as she leaps onto its side. Her claws sink into its back, a mighty roar rippling through her chest, her massive jaws splaying to grab it by the side of the throat.

Then, she holds on for dear life, savoring the familiar pulsation of arterial vessels against her lips. Blood starts to seep from the corners of her mouth, thick and warm on her tongue, which earns another snarl from the tigress.  

"Azoula Davati"