Come down, come down sweet reverence

It was taking Jynn awhile to settle into a pack role but the fascinating flora and fauna of the area made it easier to settle in. There was so much to see and explore. Eager to contribute to her new home Jynn had been focusing on hunting, mainly small prey but today there was a herd of strange animals near the maze and she couldn't help but wonder what they tasted like.

Sævor had explained that the creatures were called takins. They were like giant goats but with horns more akin to a water buffalo or musk ox. The herd consisted of roughly a half dozen. She assumed the biggest one she assumed was a male with the rest being female but it was hard to tell for sure for all of them had horns. Their soft, golden colored fur was gorgeous and Jynn knew right then she wanted a hide to line her den.

The herd seemed content to graze and she slinked back into the maze, near the packs main communal area and called for those that wished to hunt to join her. She knew the pups were on the cusp of turning 3 seasons, this would be an excellent opportunity for them.

Jiro was whittling away some bamboo to help his adult teeth that were finally growing in. Content and minding his own business, he gets comfortable by scooting up against the walls of the bamboo, resting his big butt as far into the shade as he can. Its rather tight now that he's growing larger, but if he's smart about it, he can really wiggle his way in between the bamboo stalks that line the pathways.

He has no desire to hunt until the paws of Jynn go walking by. Looking up at the maned wolf, he watches until she stops to offer him a part in the takin hunt. His tail wags as he gives her an enthusiastic nod of agreement. "I've hunted Takin before with Erik. It was fun!" Jiro exclaims, following after Jynn as they go to collect the rest of the group before heading back to the herd of Takin.

The quiet girl was trailing another of their siblings, copying their every move when they weren't looking, seeing if she could make the others laugh. As Jynn passed by she abandoned her line of mischief to see if she could tickle the maned wolf's feet as she passed. She loved how tall and leggy Jynn was and wondered if she'd ever get as big and leggy.

When Jynn spoke up and invited them on a hunting trip for Takin, Asahi bounded up behind her brother Jiro, puffing up her pale chest to indicate she was game for the hunt. She was great at following instructions! Maybe Jiro could be her voice if it was needed.

Eager to hunt and learn, Kaizen didn't mind who taught him- as long as they knew what they were doing that was plenty for him. And Hattori seemed to trust Jynn, so Kaizen saw no reason to not do so as well. With two of his siblings in tow, and probably more to come, Kaizen eyed the little herd of...goat cows? It was hard to say what they were exactly for sure, but they had hooves and Jynn seemed to think they were worth hunting, so he would follow her lead.

"What should we do?" Because the boy thrived on instruction, point him at a task and he'd do it.

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Come down, come down sweet reverence

Jiro was quick to join, mentioning that he'd hunted takin before. "Oh? Well, I'm all ears!" Jynn joked, wiggling her large ears. "But seriously, if you've got an idea how to go about this feel free to share. I haven't hunted these before but right now I assume it will be similar to most large prey." Though she could assume the process was similar to other large prey and when in doubt, chase and catch the slowest was a reliable method. At least these beasts didn't seem like they'd clump up like bison or musk ox.

Jynn danced about as little Asahi appeared, trying to tag her feet. Her tail wagged as she gazed down at the quiet girl. She hadn't heard the pup make any noise and wasn't sure if the girl was just that quiet or if there was something physical that made it difficult to speak. "Asahi, glad you can join us." This was shaping up to be a proper hunting party.

Last to join was Kaizen and she nodded a greeting to the boy. "Good to see you Kaizen, I think we have our hunting party together now. Follow me, the herd is on the edge of the maze." She turned and slipped back onto the myriad of paths, winding her way through while checking on the pups. Soon they arrived where the takin were grazing.

Jynn spoke softly. "Sometimes a weakness in the herd is obvious. Other times you need to chase and test. We'll get as close as we can then trigger the herd to run. Generally the weaker and more vulnerable ones will fall behind. Then the goal is to trip it up and get it on the ground where the kill can be made."

With the rough plan in place she slinked forward through the grasses that surrounded the maze. When she got as close as she dared she glanced about to make sure the pups were ready. With a great snarl she leapt forward at the takin. They immediately startled, thundering hooves hitting the ground as they raced away from her. Jynn kept up behind, eyes searching the weakness. It was then she noticed an older cow that seemed to be breathing heavy. She barked out a call to alert the pups as she neared the rear of the cow, snapping and biting.

The wiggle of Jynn's large ears make Jiro laugh. He appreciated her humor and light heartedness which was a pleasant change from the seriousness of Tojo-Kai. "If we have a big enough group, it's pretty much like any other large prey," Jiro says, agreeing with what Jynn has to say. His head gives a little nod, smile widening until he hears his siblings approach, answer the call for a hunting group.

Asahi is first to join him and Jynn. Jiro smiles at his smaller sister, knowing that she's not one for words. "Good thing hunting doesn't require talking," he teases her, leaning down to nip at her ear when she comes to stand beside him. Next is Kaizen and though Jiro loves him dearly, he wishes the other body would smile every once in awhile. Reaching a paw out to bop Kaizen lightly on the shoulder, he gives his brother a big lopsided grin before returning his attention to Jynn.

They move out to the edge of the maze where the group of Takin mingle, grazing on the drying grasses. With one ear on Jynn, listening to her instructions, Jiro watches the herd move about. Yep, just like the Takin he'd hunted with the other boys north of the territory! The question of finding the herd's weakness though was a new aspect that he found challenging. At first glance, the takin all appeared in good health with no obvious limps.

Once Jynn bursts forward, initiating the hunt, Jiro follows suit. Taking up the rear to conserve energy and make sure Asahi didn't fall behind, his attention is quickly turned to where Jynn barks. The herd of Takin scatter making the older cow an obvious target. Turning to follow Jynn and the older cow, Jiro picks up his pace to get closer to the beast. Snapping at its legs, careful to avoid any kicks, he lets out a couple of sharp barks to keep it moving.

Asahi beamed up at Jynn and wagged her tail in return as she was acknowledged. She ducked her head and stuck her little pink tongue out at Jiro as he attempted to nip her ear and tease her. She didn't mind at all. She'll talk when she's ready, she just doesn't have anything interesting to say yet! She nodded to Kainzen as he joined them.

She followed the troop out to the Takin. She hadn't hunted them yet and was eager to learn! Listening intently her golden eyes surveyed the goat bison creatures that were to be their target. They were larger than she thought, could they really take one down? She trusted Jynn and her brothers, they seemed to have had more experience.

Jynn laid out the plan and Asahi tailed the maned wolf as they began slinking through the grasses toward the herd. As Jynn leapt forward Asahi bolted alongside her. It wasn't as easy for her to see what Takin Jynn barked about after the herd was running. Asahi was starting to choke on some of the dust they were kicking up. Then through the haze, she could see them ganging up on an elder takin and she bolted that way to bite at its heels, ducking and re-navigating to a safer spot along its side after she nearly got kicked.

Kaizen nodded, finding that he agreed with what their teacher said. It just made sense, the older and weaker members of the herd would try to blend in with the rest, so as not to get singled out, but it was hard to hide an injury, aches and pains came through in movements no matter how hard they tried to hide it. Even if the tells were subtle, a talented hunter could point them out no problem. And Jynn was just that, she spooked the herd into motion and Kaizen followed suit, running in tandem as his gaze followed the individual she had singled out.

He pushed hard to keep pace, finding it difficult to keep with the maned wolf, who was so swift and light on her paws. Even his siblings were keeping up, which made Kaizen grit his teeth, dig in hard as he lunged forward, hoping to grab a hold of the takin's short tail- he'd briefly thought about the leg but was wary to get a hoof to the face.

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Come down, come down sweet reverence

Jynn kept on the heels of the cow, hanging back just slightly in case the beast tried to kick. It was a gamble for the takin. If it tried to kick it would lose its momentum and the wolves would gain but it would also have a chance of causing serious injury or death to its pursuers. It was a similar gamble with the horns, especially as the old takin was falling notably behind the group now. Jynn's slender neck lanced out, fangs drawn as she nicked the back of the cow's leg. It was far to big for her to hold it but that wasn't the point. Almost on instinct the cow tried to kick back, the stumbled.

Jynn narrowly avoided the hooves. Springing up along the cows other side, opposite Asahi. Twisting in she leapt for the back of the cows head, fangs latching onto its neck. The sudden weight on its neck causes the cow's head to dip nearly to the ground as it stumbled awkwardly, struggling to keep going. Blood flowed hot into her jaws and she hoped the young wolves could still the takin long enough for the kill to be complete for in this position she was vulnerable to being stepped on by the large front hooves.

The pursuit continues, Jiro beginning to feel the ache in his own legs. He’s not as well adjusted to endurance running as adults are - especially someone like Jynn. But like his brother, he digs in and keeps on going. Staying just outside of kicking range, Jiro nips and barks at the takin until Jynn finds her opening.

Keeping up as Jynn launches onto the back of the takin, Jiro makes his move next. With the takin distracted by Jynn’s assault on its neck, stumbling as it attempts to push on, Jiro moves closer to its leg. Building up energy and movement, he springs forward and launches onto the takin’s upper thigh. Biting down and hanging on, he hopes his weight toward the back will slow the takin or at least bleed it out further so that Jynn can finish the hunt.

Panting hard she stays with the group. She is by far the smallest of the gang and is trying her best to keep up. Her legs ache with the running, since she was more used to hunting bamboo rats and other vermin out of the bamboo, this was incredibly difficult for her.

Incensed by her brothers and Jynn, Asahi leaps over a rock, spurs herself forward, and launches for the throat, bent as it was from Jynn on top of it, landing just behind the jaw. Hopefully throwing the takin over and helping to take it down.

As soon as it falls over she thrashes her head with her teeth firmly at the jugular just like she would do to take out a rat. Tearing the hide and skin away from the body enough to make it bleed but not strong enough to make it come away in one piece yet. She yarks sharply as one of its hooves kick out in its dying throws and lands on her hip. That'll bruise in the morning.

Throwing his weight atop the takin, it was a struggle to stop the beast from rising to it's hooves. Even old and weak, he could feel the muscles moving beneath its skin, that any one of them alone wouldn't have stood a chance in bringing it down. Letting his talons rake and dig in, Kaizen gritted his teeth, ears pinning against his skull in focus. His sister got a solid bite to the throat but was kicked off, sending a flicker of alarm through his system. He wasn't confident that he could end this, but if he didn't move now he knew they ran the risk of drawing this out even further.

So he scrambled forward, teeth snapping as he moved to widen the exposed wound on its neck, talons scrabbling to yank it out and tear it open like a human pulling open a packet of crisps. Messy, but effective. With blood loss like this, even if it managed to stumble away from then it would pass out quickly.

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