Tag, you're it!

After receiving hunting lessons from his uncle, Asmodeus was becoming more and more sure of himself and of his abilities. Sure his first kill was a sloppy one, but that didn't mean he was forever a lost cause, did it? He repeated the lessons to himself again and again, nose to the ground and waiting Abraxas to send to him another critter ready for it's death for a fast-growing pup to practice upon. He did not need to wait long before a pleasant scent reached his nostrils s and he flared them outwards to drink it in. It was not a creature he recognized the smell of, though somehow he knew it would be the best tasting snack he'd had yet.

Finding it was the hardest part but damnit did Deus spend every ounce of concentration on following it's trail. He followed it over and under and around boulders, through patches of bushes and between stumpy trees. It seemed like the damn thing had squirmed itself around the entirety of Wolfpaw Lake and Deus was losing count of how many times he'd passed the same paw-pad shaped marking in the ground. With a grand and aggravated grumble the pup was near to giving up, spinning hard on his heels to stalk back the way he'd came. It was then that the scent grew stronger and he realized why he was unable to catch up with it - the critter was chasing him too! From the bushes pushed out a fast-moving rabbit which startled and nearly fell down as it caught sight of him. Deus had never heard of a creature trying to make a fool out of a wolf, but it must have been a gift from Abraxas just as the squirrel had been. As the rabbit turned tail to sprint away, Deus gave chase.

His paws were large and unwieldy, too big for his body that hadn't yet grown enough to fill them out. He was slower then he should have been, huffing with the effort as he chased and chased the creature. Each time he got close enough to see it's bouncing tail the rabbit would swerve the other way and Deus would let out a fierce puppy growl. This was impossible. He needed to stop and rethink his strategy.

Uncle Aureus had taught him about anticipation, and Deus did his best to ignore the soft taunting thumps behind him that vibrated the ground as he thought. When he turned he knew the rabbit would run. If he went a different direction, it would follow him and continue it's game of tag. The field he was in was too flat and wide for a game of chase right now, the rabbit would have too many options to scatter and escape. Deus knew he had to play it smart, and instead of turning back towards his prey he started forward casually and began to look for a narrower path.

Wolfpaw lake had a few 'pawpads' that helped give it it's name, and Deus had decided that between the 'toes' of the lake might be his best chance at cornering it. He kept at a steady fluid jog, forcing himself not to look back to see if the rabbit was following or not. Eventually he made it to the narrower area and continued onwards towards where the terrain was the hardest to manuever smoothly. It was only when he was there that Deus spun on his heels, snapping and snarling and running towards the rabbit which was forced now to turn entirely around rather then running perpendicular. The forced movement gave Deus enough time to catch up while the prey reacted, and with his final burst of energy he leaped and landed his paws squarely down upon the rabbit's torso. It squealed, realizing the game was lost but perhaps not expecting the punishment Deus intended. While another pup might have adopted the creature who only wanted to play, Deus had learned not to shun the gifts of Abraxas. The rabbit was sent to him, and it would fill his belly and maybe even his sisters if there was any left over.

He knew from experience with the squirrel that the thing would flail and kick until it was dead, so he did not wait long in delivering the deathblow. His tiny jaws came down upon the back of it's neck and he squeezed hard until the flailing had stopped. Blood squired onto his white muzzle but still he kept biting down, releasing it only when he was sure the thing was dead.

Triumphant at last, Deus let himself rest. It was exhausting physically but also mentally, and though the pup felt a sense of accomplishment for his kill he also wondered if it would always be so draining. Once he had caught his breath he retrieved the warm corpse and headed for home, intent on asking one of the members of his family how he might properly handle his kill and potentially keep it's pelt as a momento.

OOC: 839/800 WORDS