He was hot on the trail of a small herd of deer. However, as he veered into the estuary, he crossed the scent of something much more appealing. Moose. By her scent, she was an elderly cow, past the age of bearing calves. She smelled relatively healthy, but the uneven tracks, weight resting deeply into the right foreleg and left hind track, while the other two legs were lightly marked, suggested her age was getting to her. Arthritis, maybe, or perhaps she’d taken a bad step somewhere and badly pulled either leg. A moose would be a great kill to bring in to dry and store, with a sizable hide for crafting with, not to mention all the sinew, bones, hooves, and stomach. She was a hobbling crafter’s dream. She was alone, but he wasn’t dumb enough to take a moose on his own. He’d learned well that Moose were a teamwork prey animal. Still, he pressed forward stealthily, wanting to get an eye on the moose and familiarize himself with her appearance and scent before he went about gathering a hunting group. Eventually, after twenty minutes or so of slinking after her trail, he spotted her, browsing on the wetland foliage. The knee of the left foreleg, the one she’d barely put weight into, was huge and knobby in comparison with the other, which had more muscle as though she’d been walking like this for a long time, supporting the weight there as she went while the left leg was slimmer and visibly weak. Arthritis creaked in her bones, and while her coat was sleek, she moved carefully. Her right hind leg was tender as well, and the moose was visibly reluctant to put weight on it, wobbling and hobbling between each bad leg with each step to a new spot of browse. Healthy or not, it would be a mercy kill. The moose would be put to rest, and the wolves would get food and crafting supplies to last for a good while. Cairo’s eyes swept the surroundings beyond the moose, studying possible angles for at least four to come in at, strategizing while he had the advantage of being downwind of the moose. Glancing up at the trees and foliage, he made a note of the location, as it seemed she was settling in for a snack and a rest, and faded back the way he’d come, tipping his head back to call for the Hunt Circle once he’d reached the wall. Walk ---- "Speak" ---- "Hear" ---- Think

Wyndelin was enjoying the spring weather in the west, particularly the sound of birds. It was probably one of the sounds he missed the most when winter had its frozen grip upon the land. There was always this haunting silence. Now that silence gave way to sound and song. The sky was a beautiful blue, clouds moving lazily through the sky. Wynd was on the hunt for a good meal and he caught a rather odd scent as he was tracking. It was deer-like but not a deer. He wasn't quite sure what it was but as he tracked the scent he came upon a large creature. It was massive! Wyndelin eyed it and noticed it was limping. He also spied another wolf. Slinking through the grasses and trying not to get stuck in the marshy areas he moved toward the man, hoping to catch the other's gaze without making a sound. "Talk"

It had become a familiar thing to hear his buddy calling for help with a hunt and every time Nolan was more than happy to answer as long as he was near by. This time the call seemed to come from slightly outside of their usual territory and that made him even more curious about it. He hopped to his feet dutifully and trotted across Valhalla's lands quickly till he reached the edge of their borders that bled into the avian estuary. He spotted Cairo easily enough and he gave his fellow hunter a wide, lopsided grin as he came over and bumped his head against the dappled man's shoulder. "What exciting prey did you find this time?" he asked in a low, soft voice since he had no idea of knowing how close it was - whatever it might be. He glanced up and noticed the other gray male that had seemed to join them. It wasn't someone he recognized, but if it was someone that could help them with a hunt then he certainly wouldn't complain. He gave the stranger a nod as greeting and gave him a smile as well before refocusing on Cairo for an explanation of what they had been called for. "Talk"

Halla slipped quietly through the grasses, piercing eyes gazing forward as she followed the scent of moose. She knew she hadn't a pray of catching one solo but the scent might lead her to good grazing or water where smaller prey animals might be resting. She'd been keeping mostly to her self as her visions stilled. She knew she could find her aunts in these lands but where to start looking? Everything was so vast!

The singing of a meadowlark caught her attention for a moment. Perhaps she was to focused on the future, now was a time to be present and to find herself sustenance to continue her quest. She followed the scent further on until she game upon three males who seemed to be hunting. She got the words of one aimed at a mottled male. "Excuse me," she said softly. "May I join you? I ask only for a little food."

He wasn’t kept waiting too long. First came a stranger of similar age to himself, and he nodded at the silent indication the other man was hoping for a hunt. Next was Nolan, and Cairo grinned at his best friend, tail wagging lightly. They were well out of sight of the moose, and out of ear shot. Third came a second stranger, a woman older than any of them, in her prime years. As She inquired, Cairo nodded, ran his eyes over the three before him, glancing toward Valhalla to see if any others in the Circle would be joining them, before he shifted to address them. “There’s an elderly moose cow about two hundred paces south of here. She’s injured, and also lame in the left foreleg. It appears she pulled or twisted her back right, so she’s severely hindered. She’d heathy other than that, though, so she should provide plenty of food for both Valhalla, and the two of you.” He nodded to the two strangers with an easy grin. “She’s in a clearing, with plenty of growth walling her in, so if we’re careful, two of us could circle down around either side of her and spook her into the ambush of the two of us lying in wait downwind. The latter two can topple her while the courser pair catches up to help finish the kill.” He shifted to his paws and padded quietly back down the trail, adding “She’s settled in for the day, from the looks of it. Which of you would like to do the spooking?” To his mind, he and Nolan could do the takedown, with their larger size they would have a good chance at pulling her off balance and bringing her down while the courser pair caught up. He tossed a glance over his shoulder at the three, ears perked as he paused long enough for responses. Walk ---- "Speak" ---- "Hear" ---- Think

Wyndelin grinned as a few more wolves showed up to the hunt. One was a stranger and the other clearly knew the first wolf on the scene. Wyndelin was just happy for the added assistance. The more the merrier and the greater their chance of success would be when it came to taking down the moose. He looked to Cairo as he explained that there was an elderly moose cow that was injured and lame in one of her legs and suffering wounds in another. That was a good sign for the wolves. "I can help with the spooking." He was reasonably built for speed and was the smallest wolf present, if not necessarily the lightest in build. He figured he should make advantage of his build for the good of the group. "Talk"

Nolan glanced up when another wolf came to join them, a woman this time that also seemed to be a loaner. He was surprised no other Valhallan wolves had come to join them, but that was fine - as long as these strangers were willing to help them bring down their prey then he was happy to hunt with them. He focused his attention on Cairo when his friend began to explain what it was he was intent on hunting today. It sounded like this moose was a prime candidate for them to hunt and it sounded like something they would certainly be able to handle. As always Cairo's plan was quite sound and Nolan agreed with how he planned for it to play out. He was always so impressed with his friend's observations and tried to learn a little from him every time they hunted together. The male that had reached Cairo first at his call spoke up and stated that he would be one of the two to spook the moose. "I can as well," he added softly. He knew speed was his strength so he would leave the take down to Cairo and the female that had joined them last. He looked to the gray hued male with a slight smile and a nod. They were going to be partners for the hunt it seemed. Looking back to Cairo he waited for him and the woman to get into place so that he and the male could get to work sending the moose toward them. "Talk"

Halla kept her silence as the first male explained that he'd seen an injured moose cow that would be easy pickings if they approached sensibly. She caught the name 'Valhalla' and connected it with the pack two of the wolves were from. The name stuck with her for it was a name out of legend for her. She felt it a bit arrogant to name ones pack after such a hallowed place but she was not about to start an argument on religious grounds when there was food to be obtained. It did bring her some interest that others here might share her beliefs, if not the interpretation of them.

The other boys planned to do the spooking. "I can help topple the cow."

As they each took a role in the hunt, he nodded, and completed after the woman, “And I will be the other to take her down.” With that, he flicked his tail and began leading the way back to the moose’s spot. Once they were withing earshot, his stride dropped into the smooth grace of a hunter, stealthy and patient. When he had eyes on her, he nodded his head in a tip toward either side, picking a well hidden spot and glancing toward the two men with a grin. He settled into a crouch, just a bit to the side of where he deduced the Cow was most likely to flee to when the two males set the hunt in motion. Settling in to wait, he watched for the next step in the hunt, flicking a glance toward Halla to check her position. With luck, they’d all eat well. Walk ---- "Speak" ---- "Hear" ---- Think

Wyndelin followed quietly after Cairo as the group stalked toward the moose. He was excited and terribly hungry. This would also be a nice little experience of hunting with a pack again. He'd been craving big game for so long. As they got closer Wyndelin slung down low, moving carefully as he approached. Pausing for a moment until Cairo and Halla were situated. He looked to Nolan and nodded lightly. He was ready. With a snarling bark Wyndelin burst out of the brush toward the moose, looking toward the side to drive her toward the wolves laying in wait. The moose jumped, startled and started limping away from his snapping teeth. "Talk"

Nolan watched Cairo and the woman of the party go to get into their positions while he hung back with the other blue-eyed male and when he glanced toward his running partner he saw the nod that showed that they were ready. He shot the man a grin and then focused his pale gaze on their target. He timed his movement to be in sync with his partners, leaping up from their hiding spot with snarls and barks as they rushed toward the moose. The cow attempted to cut in front of his path as she frantically limped away from where Cairo and Halla were waiting, but Nolan darted forward and redirected her back to where the two wolves were waiting to bring her down with a few hard nips at her legs and a few particularly loud snarls. The cow skidded a bit and moved away from him, unknowingly heading directly toward the two hunters that were waiting for her. "Talk"

Halla quietly followed Cairo and the others to where their prey waited. She slung down low and careful as she followed after Cairo to where they would lay in wait. She found a good area with a thick covering of brush. She slipped behind it, her limbs coiled beneath her and ready to spring. Wyndelin and Nolan moved into position the charged for the cow, effectively startling her and herding her toward the two hunters who lay in wait.

Halla tenses, eyes fixed on the moose and as she moved past Halla spied the injured leg and leapt, her jaws tearing into the already injured leg, causing the moose to stumble and trip.

The hunt was on, and as the boys got the cow running, and she blundered into the trap, Cai waited until Halla sent the moose stumbling with a well-placed attack. As the throat came within reach, Cairo surged from his hiding place and clamped his jaws shut on the now frantic beast’s neck, a foreleg snaking up on either side of trhe moose’s neck to hang on as the cow staggered to her feet again. Cairo clung with his forelegs, clamping his teeth shut on the cow’s throat. They were so close to victory and a meal. He wrenched his head to each side, knowing the other three would rally and help complete the hunt so they could begin the next step in skinning and processing the meat, and enjoying a meal in the meantime. The moose staggered under his weight on her neck, and he clung tighter with a growl. Walk ---- "Speak" ---- "Hear" ---- Think

Wyndelin drove the cow hard, keeping close and just off to the left to make him harder to kick should the cow design to risk her shaky balance to tag him. As she raced to the wolves laying in wait, Halla seized hold of the cows injured hind leg. Wyndelin moved swiftly to latch his jaws over the cows other hind leg along the side of her knee. She toppled forward, unable to stand with the weight of two wolves tearing at her hind legs. With luck she wouldn't have to struggle long. Either way Wyndelin held on as tight as he could. He didn't want to lose his grip on the healthy leg and end up getting kicked in the head for his trouble. "Talk"

Between Halla's grip on the moose's leg and Cairo's grapple on her throat and Wyndelin's grip on her other hind leg the cow was effectively taken care of before he even finished catching up with the group. He ran over to stand along side Cairo and get a hold of one of its loose, flailing front legs so that she wouldn't catch Cairo with it as she still frantically tried to get away and so there was no risk of her actually finding a way to get back up on her front legs somehow. He pulled the leg back so it was out of the way and put his front paws on the moose's chest to help keep her down as well. At this point he was just doing what he could to hold her still till Cairo's hold on her throat finally did the trick. Soon enough it did and he felt the moose go limp against his hold. He gave it another moment more before he let the leg go and gave his buddy a triumphant grin. It didn't really matter how many hunts they did - they were all just as fun and rewarding. He turned his attention back toward the two strangers that had joined in on the hunt as well, giving them both his signature dopy grin. "Hey! Good job!" he told them both as he hopped down off of the moose and gave himself a shake. "I'm Nolan, by the way! Nice to meet you both!" He knew there was still plenty of work to do before they could all eat and take whatever was left back to Valhalla, but it felt like the hard part was done. "Talk"

Halla held on tight to the injure leg as the moose tried again to kick and failed. She moved with the motion of the larger animal while maintaining her grip. Like a pup with a piece of hide she shook her head, seeking to cause as much damage as possible. Blood ran down her lips as she waited for the hunt to end. Cairo seized the moose's neck as Nolan grabbed one of the legs effectively stopping the moose in its tracks. It eventually succumbed to the wolves.

Halla gingerly let go then looked over at the young, cheerful male, dipping her head lightly in greeting. "Halla, it's a pleasure." She moved toward one of the front legs and started ripping into the flesh, eager to sate her hunger. She was thin from her life as a loner and she didn't want to wait for scavengers to appear before she got her fill.

As the others piled on, the moose went down, and Cairo finished her with a swift rip of his jaws over her throat, releasing it and stepping back as the moose went limp. He grinned at the others, nodding as introductions were traded. ”Good hunt, everyone. Any preference of cuts?” This he added to Wyndelin and Halla as the woman dug in. He glanced north thoughtfully, wondering if they’d want the hide or any bones. Turning back he asked the two loners, “So what brings you two to the area aside from a good hunt?” Maybe they had stories from travels as loners, either entertaining or informative. Walk ---- "Speak" ---- "Hear" ---- Think