Cifarelli felt it. The moment such a feeling crept into his veins like the blood that called them home. Such luck to come across a lone Ox. His scent heavily clinging to the atmosphere. Droplets of crimson paint dotted the white canvas of winter snow. A clear sign that something had, also, tried to take such a beast down. But did not succeed. Too bad for them. Lucky for a male like him. He stalked the forest edge. Keeping to the shadowed trees looming overhead. Navigating these lands were no issue to him. Since he and Sephiran had done so prior. The memory of such events coming handy to press down along the ridges. "Speech"

Come down, come down sweet reverence

After her visit to the Marble Wash she felt it was time to get herself collected and begin the long and arduous journey back to Auster. She opted to head down the west side first to do a little more exploration and so headed into the Gale Gorge, ears pinned to her head, her rabbit skin cap snug against the wind.

The wind brought with it an interesting smell, musky and bloody. A musk ox perhaps? She could never take down such a beast by herself, even injured. However, there was a chance that it had been injured and was now dead. In which case Jynn had no problem scavenging to get her dinner. She set to tracking, following the blood as well as the disturbed snow til a familiar form caught her eye. "We meet again. I do hope this means a hunt is underway?"

Kaizen had never been this far north before, and he could not say he liked it, too cold and the air had a cold bite that he did not appreciate. Still, there was only so much he could learn about hunting in Auster and Jynn herself had once said that prey tended to grow larger in cold climates. So he followed her north, wrapped in furs to keep warm, following behind Jynn at quite some distance.

Catching the scent of blood, even despite how cold his nose was, he thought it would be worthwhile trying to bring the beast down. He did not know what was in store, but trusted Jynn's judgement and capabilities well enough, the stranger would be extra help too of course, though Kaizen was not aware of what he was capable of.

"I will help too."

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She was making her way further south when that delicious blood trail weaved its way into her nose. Fable's eyes lit up and she lifted her head high, following the yellow brick road of the scrumptious odor. The chill was biting back to her bones, but the thought of some fresh meat had her mouth filling with saliva. Weight had dropped off of her quickly during her flight from the faraway lands and her ribs were peeking out. Her diligent tracking was rewarded when she heard the bellowing of an injured animal in the distance.

As she approached carefully, Fable eyed a loosely assembled group that seemed to be plotting the beast's takedown. It was fearsomely large, but with those present they had enough power between them to take it down. "Alright! That's our target, yeah? Could I take the liver if we get it downed?" She asked, watching the huge beast stumble onwards. The horned pup caught her eye, his markings strikingly similar to a wolf she once knew. "Hmm, if I was a betting woman, I'd say you might be related to Kuroki?" Fable teased, wondering what he might be up to. He'd always been cool and self-assured; he could have made anything of his life.

"Fable"

So much for stalking. Scents of differential energy came to assault his nose. It drew his attention away from tracking the wounded Musk Ox. And, towards the odd bunch of wolves who’d come to help. One being a slightly much large woman who’s words were loud and obnoxious. Her presence alone brought a low grumble of disapproval to his throat. Luckily their distance away did not disturb their intended prey. Before her, a pup of growing size, one that smelled like Jynn, who’d also arrived before the two others, came seeking to help as well. Cifarelli held back the laughter at such a pitiful joke. Taking note to remember this moment. A story he’d surely tell his brother the second he returned home. Jaws snapped the air to claim silence from further discussion. This was not a turn for this. They were on a hunt and he did not wish to lose such a valuable opportunity. Casting a quick glance to the orange canid, Jynn, he glanced up at the trees above. He’d seen her lounging in their branches before. To know she could be a perfect ambusher made this situation even more interesting. "Jynn. Find a tree that suits your weight." His voice was low. Calculating and concentrated. "Pup. There’s a gathering of boulders. Pick one and wait. " Cifarelli shot the young one a look of sternness. If he messed this up, then what would it all have been for. "You, loud one. We’ll drive it to Jynn and the pup." With that, he wandered away from the three. Finding his position just opposite of the wounded beast. Attention on the others in wait for what was to take place. "Speech"

Come down, come down sweet reverence

Jynn cast an encouraging grin to Kaizen. They'd feel much warmer after getting their blood pumping for a hunt and then of course a nice warm meal after if they were successful. A creature of warmer climates she could completely understand his discomfort with the cold. The trio was soon joined by another woman and Jynn offered her a nod of greeting before looking back to the lead hunter as he called for silence. She nodded her approval. They could talk about Kaizen's relations later over a warm meal.

Ever keen, Jynn followed Cifarelli's gaze up to the trees as he spoke to have her find a tree that supported her weight. "Consider it done." She circled the trees like a cat, eyes sizing up the branches as well as a way up. While she lacked the useful mutations that many were gifted with she was a unique creature in her own right and her long legs and light frame lended itself to perching in trees with greater ease than the average wolf.

She crouched, then leapt, claws offering her grip as she moved from branch to branch, finally settling on one that was a good height for dropping onto musk ox. There she settled on her belly, keeping her limbs tucked beneath her for the pounce.

Pup. Kaizen's brows furrowed sharply, a note of offence mixing in with the confusion. He stared back at the sharp look, unblinking, why the emphasis? It was true he did not have a lot of experience when it came to hunting, but he was capable enough and could listen to instruction, he could not understand what the issue was, if there even was an issue. He side eyed Jynn briefly, not at all surprised by her laid back reaction, he liked her.

Doing as he was told, Kaizen moved to the outcrop of boulders, of what he assumed they were going to use as some sort of blockade. A means to cut off the beast and corner it, that made sense. Waiting, Kaizen did not exactly blend into the scenery given his coat colour, but he was leaning in such a way that he could only be spotted if one was looking for him. It would do.

She resisted the urge to roll her eyes at the wolf who'd tracked the beast first. Loud one? Her tone had been quiet and conversational, and the beast before them was lost in a haze of pain of struggle. Its ears certainly weren't keen to their planning. Fable wasn't used to being the one who orders were barked at, that was for certain, but it was all in the name of a larger cause: securing the succulent creature before them. He was young, she noted, and the plan he had swiftly assembled had some loose threads she could pull at if she was interested in raising an argument, but she simply nodded her assent.

Fable stepped back and watched as everyone took their positions and she slunk into a spot parallel to where Cifarelli had chosen to wait. Once she was certain they were all prepared to begin, she attempted to catch Cifa's eye and gave a decisive nod before giving chase. The beast was slow moving but once she was at its heels, the musk ox bellowed low and began to careen towards the tree and the boulders. Fable dodged the flailing hooves and managed to get a few good latches on its right hind legs before it kicked her off. She grunted with the impact but the warm blood flooding her mouth was more than enough encouragement to keep on it. They gained ground quickly towards the tree Jynn had chosen to perch upon.
"Fable"

Everyone sat in their positions. Waiting. It wasn’t until he caught sight of the one who’d come so full of energy did he set off into motion. Body maneuvered the tundra. Paws slapping embedded stones and icy patches which nearly took him from beneath. Though, it did not stop the beast from continuing the mission at hand. He asserted more force in his movements. Lips pulling back to expose the pointy, yellow bone behind them. A rippling snarl echoed from their sealed display. Before jaws snapped at the Musk Ox heels. Though wounded, the herbivore still managed to escape as if he were not. Even with the clumsiness of hooves bypassing what he knew was pain coursing through it. "Speech"

Come down, come down sweet reverence

Jynn kept careful watch from her tree perch, watching the movements of the other wolves as the slipped into position. A moment later the chase was on. The ox surged forward, limbs pounding into the ground, sending ice and dirt scattering into the wind. She thought she also saw flecks of blood from its injury. Her fellow hunters drove the oxen on, herding it toward her tree. Jynn steadied herself, carefully gaging the prey's approach before she leapt.

Jynn landed on the oxen's neck, just behind its head. Her jaws dove in to the creatures nape, her limbs wrapping around as the sudden arrival of her weight forced the oxen's head down sharply. It fell forward, landing on its chest while its hind legs managed to stay upright.

Watching and waiting, Kaizen stared unblinking. The beast came crashing down onto its chest, legs fumbling beneath it, bending as it somehow managed to stay upright. Kaizen reasonably knew that the creature would be much easier to kill if they had it pinned, that this was his chance to help and not just linger by the side lines. So he rushed out from behind his hiding spot, cutting off the Ox's escape route and making it waver in its resolve- it had been so intent on trying to run this way, so what now? Slamming the brakes as sharply as it had, its balance was already in question-now was the time to strike.

Not wanting to engage the ox head on, since those horns were much larger than his own, reached to try and grab at its front, left limb and hauled back, teeth ripping at the thinner skin.

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Jynn fell upon the beast's back with ease and set about incapacitating it. The plan had worked wonderfully, and she tried not to wince as the kid they were working with got right up into the ox's face before going for its front limb. Good, stay out of the strike zone. Those horns were vicious. She'd seen more than a few hunters tempted by prey this large only to fail and get gored. He was too young for that. Fable split her attention between the front and the back half of the ox. It was important to stay vigilant at this stage - they were close now, and any small mistake could cost them the prey. With a snarl, she dodged its flailing back legs and cut around to the tender flesh at the crux of where its right back leg met its midsection. The skin of the thigh was thin here and she sank her teeth in with relish, tearing muscle from bone. It wouldn't be long now until the beast was felled, then she'd grab the organ meat she was after and get out of dodge to prepare it in peace.

His plan had worked! Cifarelli snarled with gratitude to the three whom not had a grip on the beast. Paws pounding hard against the grassy flooring as he rounded the beast. Seeing how they’d manage to bring it down to its feet, he took no time in wrapping jaws around his throat. The exposed area now revealed due to trying to get Jynn off of his neck. With no effort or avail. It was a perfect opportunity for him as teeth sunk deep into the thick layer. Tongue licking up the droplets of blood. Digging canines deeper into the flesh until he felt jugular. A sudden rush of fluid filling his mouth is when he knew he’d hit the life source. It was only in minutes did the beast become slack. The musk ox no longer inhaled a single breath as the last was exhaled in defeat. Body becoming limp, he didn’t let go until he was utterly sure. Not wanting to lose such a prize. "Speech"