Iscariot has learned these woods, these pines. She near disappears among them, fading into the dappled light that filters between the trees. Tracking isn't so bad up here-- despite the trees, it's relatively flat. There are plenty of good places to hide. Plenty of material to build traps and conceal them, too. It wouldn't be a bad place to spread their borders, and Riot doesn't have much (other than the weather) to complain about. It's time to put the new stomping grounds to the test, of course. Her summons is sharp, refusing to waste time. The musk oxen hovered near the edges of the Pines, grazing on the thin grasses they could scrape from beneath the frigid crust of snow. They wouldn't move far, as long as the pack moved quickly. A large meal, enough for all of them-- it's go time, fuckers. Riot is pleased with herself, leading the gathered crew down the scent trail and closing in on the herd of oxen. Gaze burning, staying low among the brushy pines. Fixating on a large male that seemed to be moving stiffly, Iscariot peered to her cohort. Tense, ready, waiting for them to get in position. They'd shatter the serenity of the afternoon soon enough.

table coding by bunni ♥

Kaino was proud of her sister for leading this hunt and busting the cherry on the Syndicate's newly chosen land. The pines would be a decent place for hunting indeed. The wide plain of blowing snow and ice was perfect for, you guessed it, musk ox. That was exactly what the group would be hunting today.

Riot called the hunters together and Kai wasn't far off. She'd been sniffing about the borders of the pines, searching for game trails that might give an indication of the flight trails of their quarry. There had been a few trails, but only one big enough to fit one of the massive, horned ungulates through. It would be an easy thing to keep them from that path.

Standing beside her sister, Kaino waited for the rest of the hunters to appear. As she waited, her gaze also moved over the oxen. She noticed the stiffness of one big male. Old age, maybe? An old injury? It didn't matter. They were going to exploit that stiffness. Smarter not harder.

"Speech"

Aresenn emerged from the shadowy pines, his gaze hardening on the lumbering outline of the aged ox. He'd heard Riot's call and had come speeding, the thrill of the hunt already singing in his veins. New territory, new rules, but one thing that didn't change was the thrill of the chase. As he neared Riot and Kaino, he nodded in affirmation, a silent promise of their shared intent.

His eyes locked onto the same creature that his companions had singled out. The beast’s limping gait seemed like an unspoken invitation to him—an invitation to test his prowess against Nature herself. The challenge was irresistible and he squared his shoulders, his breath turning to mist in the harsh winter air.

"Ready when you are," Aresenn murmured, his tone as steady as the gaze he held trained on the musk ox.

"Aresenn Praetor"

The tigress had been instructed to aid in their pursuit of expansion, having been declared a leader of one of their quests, and a participant in others. Of course, she’d comply without much thought, agreeing with the idea. Another territory would certainly benefit them. More resources to utilize, more prey to hunt, another domain to stretch their legs in. Oh, and the whole, Saxe taking over the world thing. She may not have been a participant in that, given she was a tiger. But she was wholeheartedly loyal to the Saxe empire, and would assist their pursuits in whatever way she could.

Riot was declared the leader of the hunting party, and Azoula didn’t protest. Even though she was a far more capable huntress, being a tiger and all. She’d follow the assembled group, traversing through the wintery forest with ease. After the hunt, she’d be returning to navigate the terrain more thoroughly, to determine its notable features and resources. For now, she’s simply a body in the hunt, following Riot as they tracked down a musk ox lingering at the edge of the pines.

She’s assessing their prey from afar, noting its slow, deliberate gate as it grazes on some shrubs. With each step, its limbs seem to creak and groan, its back bowed from carrying its weight for years. Its senses must have dulled over time, because it hasn’t noticed the gathering group pf predators yet.

An easier target indeed.

"Azoula Davati"

"Cifarelli Saxe" He'd heard the call. The familiar sound of beckoning to gather in the Pines. Not far off from where others already sat in wait. Surely in patience for Riot to make the first move. Being as she now led the hunt for the Syndicate's, Cifarelli gave a slight smirk the moment his gaze landed on the musk ox. It's slow gate like a taunting tease to the predators huddling within the shadowed darkness. All eyes locked on their prey as if moved with no indication of danger being nearby. A quiet chuckle rumbled his throat; but, did not make a sound. Looking over to the others with a nod of acknowledgment. Lingering just a bit on Kaino who sat just a few inches from her little sister. They were due for another meet and greet. One he would surely make happen. Until that moment, his muscles flexed beneath his flesh. Black and grey coat rippling with the heaviness of anticipation. "Whenever you're ready."

The Syndicate wishes to expand and claim another territory which mean that the hunters of the pack have some work to do. Knowing that there must be suitable prey among the sparse clusters of trees, Riot had set out, leading a small group to take down a large animal and Ezekiel is among them.

They tread silently through the snow, the man almost envious of the ease with which the tigress is able to navigate the wintery terrain. They crouch as they get closer to a herd of unsuspecting musk oxen, their eyes all landing on the one weak link in the chain.

Duel-toned eyes move to look to Riot, waiting for her to kick this off, before Zeke will move to help take down the limping, old beast.

Let the games begin.


"Ezekiel Saxe"

Iscariot's gaze rakes across the congregation, hackles high along her spine. This would do. This would do fine. Competent enough, especially with their numbers. "Work smarter not harder," the words come quietly, a smirk playing on her dark lips. With a toss of her head and a call to the rest, Riot takes off. A bat outta hell, surging toward the herd of oxen with a high pitched call to the rest. No use in staying concealed, instead using the chaos as cover. Cutting wide around the herd and positioning herself to drive the stiffly moving bull toward her waiting companions. Though the beast is slow, he's much larger. It's frightened, erratic, and she's driving it right into the waiting jaws of the Syndicate. "Riot"---"Kai"

The frozen tundra echoed with Riot's high-pitched call, a stark interruption to the languid quiet of the winter's day. Aresenn watched as the woman took off, her dark form blending against the white expanse. He stood, muscles tensed and ready, his icy gaze pinned on the lumbering bull.

"Typical," he muttered under his breath with a half-grin slithering over his rough-hewn features. Leave it to Iscariot to hurl headlong into chaos and stir up trouble. But that was part of her charm, wasn't it? The unpredictability. The sheer audacity. His eyes followed her figure for a moment longer before snapping back to the ox. His lips twitched, a growl rumbling in his throat, primal and raw. He could practically taste the fear emanating from the beast. Fear that fuelled the erratic thrashing of its hooves against the frosted ground, as it desperately tried to escape from the relentless pursuit.

As they neared their target, dividing it off the rest of the herd. Aresenn was quick to make first contact. Launching himself towrd the Oxen’s hind quaters with splayed jaws. He clamped his jaws down onto the beast, teeth sinking into thick fur and muscle as he hung on tight. The ox bellowed in agony and fear, its heavy body bucking in a futile attempt to shake off the predator. But he wouldn’t be so easily thwarted.

"Aresenn Praetor"

Slowly, the rest of the hunting party would make their way to Iscariot, readying themselves for the hunt to come. Azoula, being ever observant and quiet, waited for their party leader to give the green light. It didn’t surprise her one bit that Riot was filled with anticipation and bloodlust, tossing her head back and racing towards their prey, leaving the rest of them behind. A smirk spread across the tigress’ lips, claws unsheathing and gripping the soil, as she is overwhelmed by predatory instinct.

Riot races in, the herd panics, and she starts herding their target towards the awaiting jaws of their hunting party. Chaos ensues, Aresenn lunges forward to help and Azoula is right behind him. Sprinting after him, Azoula closes the distance between herself and their prey, lunging into the beast’s back when the moment was right. Using her hooked claws, she anchors herself onto its back, using her weight to help slow it down. Her jaws splay, and she grabs onto its right ear.

"Azoula Davati"

"Cifarelli Saxe" Iscariot plunged into the herd. Scattering those that had not been chosen as their prey. Whilst singing out the bull itself. Aresenn being the first to latch onto a hind leg. The male’s extra large body perfect for keeping the Ox from doing further damage if it could. Azoula had launched herself onto the prey’s back. Those deadly claws of hers now hooked for better balance and support. All the while observing their tactics, Cifarelli was in the motion of his own. Body sprung forth from their place of hiding. Like a shadow under the sun’s gaze, he ventured across the wide distance. Closing the space in record time to bite his teeth into the ox’s thick side. The taste of flesh, muscle and blood filled Cifa’s mouth as the bull bellowed out in pain. Receiving a guttural snarl of excitement and hunger in return.

The rest of the oxen began to scatter the moment that Riot and Kai (because she wasn't going to let her sister run out into danger by herself) raced out into the herd. It took little effort to harry the bull into moving towards the waiting group as it was more than willing to run away from the wolves on its heels. Actually, it was more of a shamble than a run. The closer that Kai came to the injured leg, the more she realized that it was rotten smelling and swollen. Infection from a big laceration, it looked like. Maybe they'd just... leave that leg behind.

As a unit, the group of predators came down hard upon their prey. Teeth latched in from all sides and Kaino followed suit, sinking sharp teeth into the not-rotten heel of the beast. The predators pulled from all directions and the bull was overwhelmed. It called out for help, but the rest of the herd had scattered to the winds. So sorry. Bad luck.

"Kaino"

They wait, watching the herd for a moment before Iscariot whispers words that puts a smirk on the dark man’s lips. Then, they are off, the small woman putting distance between the hunting party and herself as she dives into the chaos that unfolds amongst the herd while Ezekiel and the rest of the hunters’ snarl and snap to drive away the rest of the bodies. Everyone grabs a piece of the doomed ox and the familiar, exhilarating, metallic tang of blood fills the air and the man’s dark nose.

Pupils dilate, saliva pools in his mouth as endorphins hit his system and Zeke circles around the ox, searching for a place to latch onto. Kino snags the injured leg so the man decides to take the opposite one as he lunges forward, teeth sinking deep into the cords of muscle until he feels them scarp against bone. With his grip firmly in place, he throws all of his weight into his heels as he tries the grind the prey’s movement to a halt so that they can finish off the doomed beast.

Oh, what fun he is having!


"Ezekiel Saxe"

Chaos erupting around her, Iscariot tosses her head. Grins, tries to fight back the manic giggle that lifts in her throat. There's something fun about this. More than fun. It's fucking brilliant, and she's enjoying herself-- perhaps too much. Moving in time with Kaino, the two girls ready to set the world on fire. Pulling the beast in all directions, Iscariot is quick to throw her weight into his injured leg. Jesus the leg smelled off, they'd be leaving that right the fuck here during the butchery process. No need to carry back what they couldn't eat. Weight rocking into the bull's body, it finally crashes into the ground. Not willing to give up the fight yet, though, it kicks and thrashes. Iscariot wastes no time in jumping toward the fucker's throat. Not long yet. Her stomach rumbled, the promise of a good meal close. So close she can literally taste it. Already covered in gore, she's relentless. "Riot"---"Kai"

Teeth and claws on all sides, the beast was soon brought to the ground. The bull called out loudly but it was all to no avail. Together, the group ended its suffering by ending its life. Blood had been spilled across the snowy ground, leaving the group standing in a pool of red. Kai didn't mind. What was a hunt without getting a bit of blood on yourself?

As the last twitches of life left the bull's body, Kai tossed herself in a patch of clean snow and gave herself a roll before laying on her back in the white powder to catch her breath. This new territory of theirs was rich with prey and this was proof. The herd that they'd pulled the bull from had been fat and healthy. Some of the cows had been full of future walking meals. Yes. The pines would do just fine.

"Speech"

Shifted his grip, clenching his jaw tighter still. He barely noticed the metallic warmth of blood seeping between his teeth and down his throat. He was engulfed by a singular focus - to take down the enormous beast. His muscles ached with the sweet strain of exertion as he worked alongside the others. The bull bellowed its final plea, a heavy, wordless lament echoing against the snow-covered valley, only to be lost in the rush of nearby waterfalls. The sound sent a peculiar thrill through Aresenn's body, a primal call reminding him of their victory and his place in it.

As life finally left the bull's eyes, the world around him seemed to snap back into focus. The crisp crunch of snow underfoot, the tangy smell of blood mingling with fresh air and pine needles, even the crisp cold seemed sharper, more tangible now.

Aresenn detached from the now-still beast, his breaths heavy and visible in the frigid air. He wiped a rivulet of blood from his chin with the back of his hand, smearing it across his scruffy jaw. The other hunters began to disengage as well, exchanging glances of triumph and satisfaction. It was a successful hunt - a brutal dance that had ended with their victory and survival.

"Aresenn Praetor"

"Cifarelli Saxe" Their efforts were soon rewarded. Snow, once white, is now stained with the beautiful scarlet coloration of crimson. The bull had no chance the moment the Syndicate pack set their eyes on it. Such a sight the corpse made lying at their paws. Each of them coated in a massacre of their recent and successful hunt. Cifarelli gave a chilling smirk as he threw back his head. A howl of success crawled along the length of his throat and escaped dark lips. Filling the winter's air. It did not last long, however, as he gave a quick sweep over the others. Spying on the faulty leg which he noticed Riot had quickly dropped. Taking note of the decaying appendage. He cared not as he took hold of it. Easily ripping the dead weight away from the rest of the healthy flesh attached. Tossing it playfully at Kaino.

The bull musk ox is doomed as the hunters close in on it, opening deep wounds across its furry body as they seek to bring down the large animal. From his place at the other back leg, Ezekiel throws his weight to the side, causing the beast to stumble slightly and the wolves descend upon the ox. It is down without much fanfare, Iscariot immediately launching for the throat as the man stays down by the back legs, pinning them to avoid injuries to the wolves while the creature goes through its death throes.

Red paints the blank canvas of the land, staining the wolves and dead ox the same hue as they finally separate themselves from the lifeless beast. Panting slightly, Zeke sits back for a moment and watches the others as they clean off gore and start preparing the body for transport back to the pack’s larders. Blood still paints his face, giving the dark man a crimson mask as he stands and moves to offer his help to all who may need it.


"Ezekiel Saxe"