The air was cold and thin as Enyo moved silently through the snow-covered landscape, her massive paws pressing into the frost, leaving deliberate, heavy prints in her wake. The sky above remained a haunting red, casting an eerie glow across the ship's wreck. Its rusted hull jutting from the earth like the skeleton of some long-dead beast.

She scanned the horizon and her two companions soared above, cutting through the biting winds with ease. The owl thrived in the cold, gliding effortlessly over the stark terrain, while the falcon darted ahead, scouting with sharp, precise movements.

A flicker of movement from the sky caught Enyo’s eye. The falcon circled high above, its shrill cry echoing across the barren land, signaling something ahead. Her owl, following closely, swooped low and banked, confirming the discovery. Enyo's ears perked, the sound of the falcon's warning cry sharp and unmistakable. Her eyes followed their flight pattern, and she knew it from the birds’ signals. Something was nearby, something off. A musk ox. Likely one of the afflicted.

Her fur bristled as she inhaled deeply, the cold air sharp in her lungs. She couldn’t see it yet, but the scent lingered faintly on the wind... a musk far more sour and pungent than it should have been. Sick. Diseased, perhaps. Her jaw tightened at the thought. She had brought a bear trap, or something akin. It was designed to act as a foothold. She wanted to minimize mouth contact. She was looking for an edge, a cliff. Something to prevent her mouth from tasting the foul blood.

It only seemed smart.

Enyo crouched low, her muscles tense as she slinked forward, using the scattered debris of the old shipwreck as cover. For now, she wouldn’t rush in. Patience was key. Whatever was wrong with the prey in this strange land demanded caution. Much experience as a huntress told her that there was something very wrong.


"SPEECH"

Epimethius had followed Enyo's path, he had also noticed the odd sour musk that had begun spreading through S.S Antiox. It made him uncomfortable, and uneasy. He crouched as he found her scent growing stronger, speeding up to find her while making sure to stay quiet. He wasn't sure if he wanted to face whatever smelled so sickening. He assumed that Enyo was probably crafting a trap, he had begun to realize just how skilled she was when it came to anything trap-related. And he knew she would have a plan to take it down with minimal contact, because if it was diseased..? The taste of its blood did not appease him. He did want to find out what was causing it, however, and if it affected more than just prey animals. Soon he found her, she was walking through the debris. He knew she was using it as cover so he dared not to speak as he walked up to her, letting his feet fall just a smidge louder than before. Only hard enough to let her know he was near before resuming trekking next to her quietly. His eyes would scan the horizon as he looked for any sort of way to trap, or lead the sickened animal to its death. "Talk"

They had successfully taken down their bison, but Raumr still wondered. Were other prey animals behaving oddly such as the fluffy brown beasts? His eyes scanned the bland landscape and the icy ship for anything out of place. Scarred marks lining the frosted ship's hull did seem unusual. What had made those? It seemed different than where a bison would rub. Perhaps it was from... A musk ox? He watches the solitary animal behave oddly before he notices the two wolves also watching it.

Taking a wide, silent berth as his large paws displaced the sound of his heavy weight, Raumr approached the canines from the side. Once he was close enough, he slid down to his belly and looked from the two to the musk ox and then back again. "I shall help, tell me where to go," he murmurs, a hint of anticipation and excitement glittering in his eyes.

Raumr Regalus, the Third

table coding by bunni ♥

He was frustrated by his loss and kept hanging around the area like a blood-backed ghost. Katsu still had the gore from the first failed hunt painting an ugly gash of red down his chest to match his fiery mane. It didn't take long to track another musk ox, similar to the first - clearly afflicted with something. He approached on light, quick paws, scanning the scene before him and the hunters already gathered her. Kat took a breath, steadying himself as he was still panting from the exertion of his first hunt.

It barely registered at first that he stood within spitting distance of a lion. He tried not to balk at the apex predator, straightening his spine and standing tall. Katsu dipped his head in a stiff, formal greeting to the other wolves. "Many paws make light work. Avoid putting your mouths on any of the lesions, but go for blood and tire it out," he said quickly, all business, hitting the highlights from his previous endeavor. This time he would be successful. The yearling dropped into a hunter's crouch and rounded on the musk ox's other side, beginning to dart in and nip at its legs and underbelly.

"speech"

coded by NachoMumma

Others would join her, the dog being one of them. Good. Should she need a meat shield, he would make a good enough one. She even recognized Katsuro, he had proven sufficient despite being young. She supposed she would make do. Hopefully, none of them would fuck this up. The only thing that surprised her was the lion. He was eloquent, regal perhaps.

And he was offering Enyo his assistance? Her eyes narrowed as she stared, eyes observing for any subtle body language that suggested other motives. The woman didn't find anything and she supposed this too would be okay. Would the feline offer his help had he been aware of how many of his kind she had slaughtered? Enyo would give the lion a curt nod.

Raumr had claws, he could help and not even have to bite the creature. Katsuro would move, without any instruction and quite frankly it irritated her. She had barely any time to set the trap in place. She did so, running behind the creature to place the bear trap behind it. If she could take out at least one leg it would make things far easier and smoother.

"We are to push it over the edge of the ice wall if possible. The fall is so far down that we can minimize contact."

Meanwhile, Foberos and Atromitos began to swarm the face of the ox. Slashing its eyes and face in an attempt to blind it.

"SPEECH"

Epimethius greeted each newcomer with a friendly smile and a nod, even if he was strained a little. He was unsure, not of the creatures gathering to help but of what they were to face. Empimethius turned back, and his lip twitched slightly as one of the newcomers rushed the beast without planning. Recklessness would not help them here, even if he knew not to touch the boils. He quickly nodded to Enyo, before following her commands. He would go to the front, giving Enyo enough time to set the trap before nipping at it. Avoiding the disgusting lesions that smelled entirely foul. He nipped and bit and charged at it. Chasing it back to try and help Enyo's plan come to fruition. "Talk"

If they pushed it over the edge... How were they to examine what was going on? Raumr peered at the wolf that so easily slid into that leadership role. What had happened in her life for it to be so smooth? Be as it may, he would let those willing to make their mistakes. Learn from them. The same way he had at a younger age. Life had been cruel to him, but not cruel enough that he would stick his nose where it didn't belong.

Giving a curt nod in response, he turns those fiery amber eyes upon the musk ox. It did not matter to Raumr if the wolves cowered or emboldened in his presence. They would soon know what he was worth. He watches as the yearling darts forward, followed suit by companions and then the dog-looking canine. What an interesting group. Too bad Taiga was not there to join them.

Once the musk ox was fully distracted by sharp barks and snapping teeth, Raumr rushed forward. His mighty paws pummeling ice and snow as he closed the distance. Careening toward the back, he chases with power, holding back what he can so that he can chase like a wolf. Felines weren't made for such endurance. Easing up beside the yearling, Raumr swipes with sharp claws at the ox's tendons, blood quickly spraying at his face.

Raumr Regalus, the Third

table coding by bunni ♥

Katsu didn't agree with pushing the beast over the ice wall, but the others moved quickly. They did need to examine their findings - yes, this beast needed to be put down, but they also required answers. He eyed the sharp-toothed trap that the woman had laid down, dancing around it carefully as he lunged at its rear legs from the side. The hybrid with fallen ears took to the front, along with Enyo's winged companions, and drove the beast backwards.

Raumr charged for the rear and used his larger, fierce claws slicing tendon as easily as he might break a small stick. Kat's eyes widened as the blood spatter arced towards the ground, and dodged out of the way as the musk ox stepped heavily backwards. "The trap!" he called, and sure enough, with another staggered step, the ox stepped heavily into the trap. It snapped shut and the beast bellowed in pain, its back legs crumpling beneath the weight and pain. Surely it wouldn't be long now until the beast was taken down, and they could examine the body if they dealt the killing blow here.

"speech"

coded by NachoMumma

Enyo’s eyes gleamed with satisfaction as the bear trap snapped shut, the brutal sound of metal biting into flesh echoing across the icy expanse. The musk ox bellowed, its hind leg crumpling beneath the mangled, blood-soaked wound, and she allowed a small, prideful smirk to tug at her lips. Everything had gone according to plan, the coordination between them, though imperfect, managed to weaken the beast considerably. It seemed to struggle to hold its own weight now.

Her voice rang out, thick and commanding, as she addressed the others. "Should it get up and continue to fight..." She nodded toward the towering sheet of frozen death looming behind the creature. "The drop is high enough to kill it, or at least leave it broken and dying. We can climb down afterward to examine the body. No need to risk contamination any more than we have to."

She moved forward, her massive, muscular frame exuding authority as she assessed their surroundings. This was her hunt, the others had just joined in. She wouldn't mind if they kept proving themselves to be of use. The woman understood they also may need to gain info on these afflictions. Foberos and Atromitos, her loyal companions, continued their relentless assault. Foberos and Atromitos would harass the musk ox's head, their talons slashing at its eyes. One eye was already blinded, blood streaming down the animal’s face, but Enyo had no intention of letting up until the creature was brought down entirely.

"Stay sharp," she warned, her velvety voice resonating with controlled intensity. "It’s still dangerous, even like this. We push it toward the edge, and if it doesn’t fall, we end it here." Her gaze flicked briefly to Raumr, Katsuro, and Epimethius, each of them earning a nod of acknowledgment. They had all played their parts well, and though she was loath to praise openly, her approval was evident in the way she allowed herself a rare moment of trust in their abilities.

"One of you can finish it." she usually savored the kill but there was no pleasure in this. No hunter's delight.


"SPEECH"

Epimethius lunged as Enyo told them to finish it, his response was instantaneous. He would prove his worth to her if it was the last thing he did, he just wanted to show her he was useful. His jaws snapped shut on its throat as he pulled it closer to the edge. Just in case, this couldn't be finished here and now. He gripped harder, feeling the cartilage, meat, and blood fill his mouth. He had done as the young wolf said, avoided all of the lesions. So now as he moved back and spit out the blood, and shook his head. He could only hope that whatever disgusting thing was inflicting this Ox was not so easily contaminated. He would step back, coming to stand beside Enyo. The way he looked at her was evident, respect, submission, and pride. In his eyes she was someone who deserved his submission more than anything, she could say anything, and no matter the feeling internally, he would do it. He was a good boy after all? Wasn't he? "Talk"

With the tendon slashed and blood sprayed across his chest, Raumr releases to give the groaning musk ox space. Watching solemnly as the beast steps into the trap. His body barely flinches at the sharp noise of metal snapping and crunching bone. The deep bellows of the sick animal wrench through his heart. It didn't deserve such a brutal end. Looking to the female, seeing that look on her sends a rivulet of ferocity through him. Had they not done enough damage? They did not need to push it over the edge. Further damaging the body would do nothing good.

Standing to his full height, not caring to wipe the blood from his face, towering over the female who believed herself to be in charge, Raumr stalks to the beast. It looks up at him with fear in its eyes. Confusion strewn across its face as it slams its head against the ground. "The beast stays here," there is command in his own honeyed tones as he faces the piebald woman, his amber stare more stern than he's ever cared to look. A brief flicker to the other two canines, wondering if they'll step up, say something. Lifting a mighty paw and placing it upon the musk ox, Raumr moves gently over the beast's neck, soothing its dying wails while avoiding the lesions. "Do not worry. You will know peace soon," Raumr murmurs, his gaze now fully on the musk ox.

Raumr Regalus, the Third

table coding by bunni ♥
photo credit unplash.com

The insistence on tossing the beast from great height still confounded him, but Katsu wasn't brave enough to speak up. Even as he cursed himself for it, Raumr took the lead effortlessly. There was no telling if there was an easy way down from this vantage point to follow the ox down, and even if there was... everything was ice and scree. How could they ascend? His thoughts were a maelstrom, but seeing the huge beast of a lion take his place at the head of the ox and pin it straight to the ice soothed his anxieties slightly. Katsu panted, stepping slowly down and keeping his eyes locked on the lion and the ox. His eyes darted around the scene, taking in any room for error for the ox to lurch to its hooves. He was vibrating with energy. Soon. Soon it will be over.

"speech"

coded by NachoMumma

Failure!

The group, acutely aware of something not quite right with the prey animals of the north, are cautious in their attempts to take down the musk ox. Despite its sickness and injuries, a sense of primal instinct seems to take over- it thrashes wildly, letting out a guttural bellow before it charges away from them. Even if they attempt to cut it off, its surprising surge of energy allows it to escape, kicking up a cloud of debris on the way.