Okay so maybe this was going to be a stupid idea. Stretched out before him, the field of lush grass and wildflowers bloomed beneath a warm summer sun. The rain had recently washed away any lingering scents that might scare of prey. Out ahead of him, a very steep and intimidating cliff lurched over the side toward the ocean. In the distance, Kuroo could see the tiny spots of whales moving about in their pod. To him, it was the perfect place to scare any larger prey into perhaps falling off the cliff. Easy, done, and Usagi wouldn't have to fish. Though he preferred fishing, Kuroo figured this might be a bit more entertaining for his brother. Yet, how was he going to convince the prey, whatever ones he found, to drive themselves toward the said cliff? This small prairie was void of any trees or brush that might hide the cliff's edge. Furrowing his brow, the grey mottled wolf stood staring out at the horizon. Sitting in silence for a few more moments, he finally glanced over to his brother. "I'm thinking maybe we can craft something to trick an animal into falling off the cliff. What do you think?" He asked in their native language, tone curious and excited all at the same time.

1/6 crafting

Why the hell had they come to this cliffside to begin with? Usagi’s typical scowl crossed his features as he quirked a brow at his brother for his choice in a hunting spot. What were they going to do, politely ask the wildlife to launch themselves over the jutting rock? He was about to tell off Kuroo for settling on such a strange place for hunting, because it might as well end up being them falling over the cliff face instead of the poor creatures they were attempting to catch. Still, the scent of prey he scented despite the sea’s breeze could be denied no longer, and hunger crept in. Desperation was a fickle beast at best. Padding somewhat close to the edge, peering over it to the sharp drop-off and the distant sands of the beach below, Usagi turned towards his brother as he talked of crafting something to purposefully drive some beast into falling to its untimely death. His brother knew him all to well..it meant no fishing. If there’s anything he was a poor sport at, it was fishing. This at least seemed up his alley. "We can give it a try," He said in his usual flat tone, backing up from the edge to face his larger brother. He paused in thought, glancing around them for anything they could use for crafting. He frowned at the lack of trees and other cover they could’ve used to stack on the edge, perhaps to make some prey think the flat land continued further when it didn’t. He squinted at some of the taller grasses in the area, and he did spot a few larger rocks on their way here. Turning to Kuroo, he added, "Perhaps we can weave some grass together to form a string, and drive an animal to it so it trips and falls over the cliff that way." He shrugged. He wasn’t really a crafty type outside of his weapon, much less the inventive type. Kuroo usually was the mastermind behind more intellectual strategic matters. He mostly just used battle tactics himself. "Speech"

The fact that Usagi hadn't chastised him for such a silly idea had surprised Kuroo. Then again, he hadn't picked fishing this time and he knew full well Usagi didn't want to spend time crafting a net of all things. As he watched his brother peer over the edge, Kuroo beamed at him in excitement. Wagging his tail, he looked around himself in hopes to find something of use. "See Bunny, you're not completely out of good ideas," he said with a wink before turning to walk back over to the ledge. Glancing over himself to the steep drop below, he watched the waves crash against the shore. Curling his chin so he could get a better look, his eyes spotted something that might just work. "Bunny, come here. I think I found something!" Kuroo nearly barked out of pure joy for the clever idea they'd come up with. It would be just their luck that the seemingly useless field would have a good find. Growing down the cliff face, thick roots from what he presumed were large trees or bushes from off began to stick out. These would have to do! Leaning down carefully so that he could lay flat on his belly with his front paws barely hanging over, Kuroo reached down toward the roots. "Make sure I don't fall off!" He called out to Usagi as his teeth grabbed ahold of a particularly large root growth and began pulling it up.

2/6 crafting

Usagi suppressed the urge to roll his eyes as Kuroo excitedly beamed and wagged his tail. See Bunny, you’re not completely out of good ideas, the piebald wolf exclaimed, leaving the firey-splotched male to scoff under his breath. Kuroo was fortunate Usagi was at his most restrained today, surprising considering their troubles and journey to seek out their father - he’d assume his flaming temper would flare up more often, like some inflamed rash. "It’ll be a good idea if it doesn’t get us killed," He managed to reply out loud, which was really his best iteration of thanks in kind. The nub-tailed brute searched for methods of obtaining a trip-wire type apparatus with his brother. Unlike the eagerly searching, excitable Kuroo, Usagi kept a dedent distance from the edge, knowing it was a smarter move to ensure all four paws stayed on the earth. After all, the edge wasn’t what you’d call all that stable, and he didn’t trust it. That was really why they were forcing their meals to fling themselves off instead. Suddenly, Kuroo called him over, his disapproving chartruse eyes casting themselves on his foolish sibling, being too close for comfort over the cliff’s edge, and then to the thick, gnarling roots that climbed the cliff face itself. He scowled, but realizing the roots were steady and flexible enough to make a good tripping mechanism, he allowed him to continue with a watchful eye. That watchful eye turned to alarm, a sort of brotherly instinct when he sensed Kuroo would be at risk of falling over after he laid on his belly and began tugging up a damn root. Eyes wide and cursing under his breath about what a reckless, stupid idea this was, he relented in helping his brother. He would reach down and grab Kuroo’s scruff in his jaws, gently but firmly. He was strong enough, and confident in his strength, too, that he’d manage if something were to happen. Still, he despised the idea of his only trustworthy blood relative risking his life for a stupid vine. "Don’t yank it too hard, or else we’re both ending up down there," He said to his brother, voice muffled from holding his scruff fur. It was his warning to him, but what choice did they have? It was the only option, but in typical Usagi fashion, he always had to find a way to snap about it. "Speech"

Not his brightest idea to date but it was working. Kuroo tugged as forcefully as he could without tumbling over. It would only take moments before Usagi had gripped onto his scruff to hold him in place. "Thanks, Bunny," he mumbled through a mouth full of the root. Confident now that his very strong brother wouldn't allow him to topple over, Kuroo leaned back to get purchase with his front paws. After a few minutes of struggling with the damn thing, he was able to pull up a sufficient amount with help of Usagi. Pleased with his efforts, Kuroo ripped the other end from the small rut he'd created and looked over to Usagi. "Now that I'm not staring death in the face, you ready to get this set up?" Kuroo's lips were pulled up in a jovial smile as he kept his tail wagging. Usagi could be snippy all he wanted, but it never deterred him. He knew his brother was a grumpy gill from the getgo. Looking around for suitable sticks to attach the ends of the vine root thing to, he made sure Usagi was helping as well. It would be no fun doing these sorts of things without him. Once they had managed to tie the root around the sticks and drive them into the dirt so it held taut a few inches above the ground, Kuroo stepped back to admire their work. The grass was still tall enough to hide the tripwire and it was close enough to the cliff edge that any animal that tripped over it would surely go falling to its demise. Or at least twist an ankle enough that they could go in for the kill. "You ready to go hunt?" The ever permanent smile on his lips flashed back over to Usagi.

3/6 crafting

At last, Kuroo tugged the root enough so that a decent amount was pulled, and satisfied that his brother was no longer in mortal danger, he let go of his scruff. He stepped back, seeing the root they had pulled was of decent length for their project. Gods forbid his brother would get the bright idea to chase death again, but luckily, he didn’t. Eyeing Kuroo when he thanked him with a fiery glare that could only mean ‘don’t you pull a dumbass stunt like that again’, he then turned to their work. They had to reinforce and tie the root so that it would stay put, but remain low enough to the ground for a creature to trip over. If they made it too high, chances are a smaller prey animal would notice and perhaps even see past the ledge, and escape their grasp. It also had to be wide enough to give the brothers a decent berth with which to chase their meal into, in case they couldn’t get their trajectory on the spot.

Kuroo’s remark simply received a grouchy ”Sure" in reply, and the koi-splotched male took his end of the root and began to work. While crafting and wrapping vines and stuff wasn’t his thing - hell, it really wasn’t his thing, such a roundabout way of grabbing a meal - he knew Kuroo appreciated it. And while Usagi was a creature of fire and outward bitterness and hatred, it only ran so deep. His brother was one of thr only ones who could pierce his angry, cold shell into the generous, warmhearted being beneath. And if it made his brother happy that he was helping, he’d gladly sit and weave some crappy vine around some crappy sticks. His brother’s health and happiness was the biggest priority in his life, having nobody else he trusted in their lives at the moment. So be it - he’d work his ass off on this tripwire even if crafting was his Roo’s speciality, because he mattered above his own sour attitude towards it.

Once all was finished, Usagi and his brother stepped back to admire their trap. It wasn’t the cleanest nor the most refined, but it held and it was quite sturdy. The taller grasses around it would conceal the vine well, and he was ready to chase off some poor creature. Hunger leeched into his bones at that moment, only further fueling his and his brither’s desire to test out their creation. Even if the animal broke a leg over it, it would makw the job of obtaining food that much easier. You ready to go hunt? Kuroo asked him. Usagi lifted his face ever so slightly to see his brother’s permanent smile curved on his lips. In contrast, Usagi’s permanent scowl dragged his lips downward. ”I’m ready if you are, Roo," He responded anyways, concealing the warm undertones of his gravelly rumbling voice. He didn’t want his brother to think he was having too much fun, now. Glancing back to see if Kuroo was following, the koi wolf turned away from the edge and began to trot towards the grassy plains, a steady and even pace but footfalls just soft enough to let the boys hear if any prey was about.

Speech

Kuroo may not have been the brightest wolf anyone had ever met, but he knew his brother well enough. Hidden behind that scowling frown, he knew his brother was enjoying the day they were having together. His permanent smile stayed curled on his lips as he nodded in agreement. Watching his brother turn back away from the cliff's edge, Kuroo quickly followed in step beside him. Their paw steps were hushed by the tall whispering grass as his ears perked up in the search of the perfect prey. It couldn't be too large or too small or too dumb or too smart. No, it had to be just right. As they headed back toward tree cover, off toward the left, he noticed some movement. A small grouping of deer lazily grazed near the edge of the clearing. Quietly chuffing under his breath to catch Usagi's attention, Kuroo turned so that he was heading in a wide arc around the deer. Slowing his movements as he lowered his frame slightly to have better cover in the grass, his eyes zeroed in on the group. Surely, one of them would be dumb enough to fall for their trap. Nearing closer to the tree, he looked over to his brother to wait for their next move.

4/6 hunting

Sure enough, their efforts to search for prey had some success. Before long, the boys’ even pace towards the line of trees further inland gave them some clue as to what prey was there. The scent of deer hit Usagi’s nose before he saw them, the musky stench hitting his nostrils with a slight crinkle of his nose. Well, it made good prey nonetheless. Kuroo chuffed to him to indicate the sight of the herd near them, and the koi-splotched wolf dropped lower to the ground. As his brother created a wide arc aroynd the herd, the two of them observed in hopes of a wandering deer that’d be stupid enough to get closer to the cliff’s edge. Sure enough, a few minutes passed and a bulky buck meadered a ways from the herd - young, and naïve by the looks of it. It wandered a ways away perhaps in search of some more tantalizing grass, like the ones cropping up on the ledge of the cliff. When it had gotten a few paces from the herd, heading in the direction of the cliff, Usagi sprang into action, sprinting fast and low like a scarlet and charcoal phantom. He gave a wide enough berth for Kuroo to help chase it in the direction of their tripwire, and Usagi snapped at the herbivore’s heel as it brayed, panicked, beginning to lope somewhat in the right direction but also weaving, trying to slip from the male’s determined grasp. "Kuroo, help me chase it to the edge!" He called out, blocking the deer’s way the way a herding dog would try to block a wayward calf.

Speech

wishing there was something left to lose

this could be the day i die for you—

He had spotted the young buck as well when it broke from the herd to wander. His own pale gaze was keen on the male deer whose stench was ripe in his nostrils. Continuing his wide berth so that they wouldn't be spotted, he waited to draw in until he saw Usagi press forward. When his brother suddenly leaped forward to pull up behind the deer and begin the chase, Kuroo quickly whipped around. Listening as the other deer scattered at the noise of the buck braying loudly, Kuroo moved over to the other side of the buck. As Usagi called out to him for help, Kuroo picked up his step and cut off the deer from weaving too far away. Thankfully their trajectory was on target. Heading quickly toward the tripwire, his own teeth snapped out at the deer's heels. Wanting to keep it on course toward their trap, the spotted wolf kept on their prey. The closer they got, the more excited he felt. With the rush of adrenaline surging through him, Kuroo kept snapping at the deer to make sure it wouldn't veer away.

5/6 hunting

Usagi glanced to see Kuroo launch himself at the deer, snapping at its heels to get it on their trajectory. The buck brayed in alarm, its instincts forcing it only away from the wolves, but not paying attention to its inevitable demise towards the cliff’s edge. Usagi made sure the deer didn’t veer too far from the edge as Kuroo chased it, his own slender limbs propelling him side to side in swift but smooth leaps to ensure the deer was essentially barricaded into going in a linear path. Soon enough, the egde came into view as was their tripwire. Counting mentally in his head the number of strides he could take before getting dangerously close to the edge, he soon shouted, ”Stop!” As he and his brother would skid to a halt, the buck couldn’t reach the same momentum. With a final echoing cry, the deer’s limbs buckled over the tripwire, its body flying down the edge as they had anticipated. Usagi caught his breath, peering at their meal now laying limply at the bottom. With a pause in satisfaction at their success, he glanced over to his brother. Though he was expressionless on his lips, his eyes were bright with their ingenious invention. Not that he’d do it anytime soon again, but it was nice to share something with his brother as always. "I have to admit, that was interesting. Dangerously foolish in ways, but interesting,” He said, though his grumpiness leeched back into his tone. It was fun, but he didn’t appreciate his brother’s reckless decision to nearly fall off the edge himself grabbing the roots for the wire. Then again, that was Usagi for you - cold yet in some ways overly protective of his sibling. With that, he glanced at his brother as if inviting him to find a way to the bottom of the cliff, to dig into their well-earned kill. It really was an adventure with the two of them brainstorming - moreso Kuroo the brains, and Usagi the not-so-meaty brawn.

Speech

wishing there was something left to lose

this could be the day i die for you—

If it hadn't been for Usagi's shout at him to stop, Kuroo may have met the same fate. Thankfully, the rumbling call of his brother made him put on the brakes as dirt sprayed out in front of him. Unfortunately for the deer, the cliff's edge would be the last thing it saw before it tumbled over. Breathing hard with his tongue lolling from his mouth, Kuroo beamed over at his brother. Whether Usagi wanted to show happiness on his face or not, he knew his brother would be pleased. "Told ya it would work," he said breathlessly to Usagi as he wandered over to the cliff's edge himself. Staring at the mangled carcass below, he could see it twitch for a few seconds before growing still. At least the deer would meet a quick death, albeit painful. Looking up over to Usagi, he caught the look and squinted his eyes in response. Oh, so he was supposed to carry the deer up by himself? Shaking his head with a laugh, Kuroo glanced around until he saw the narrow ledge that led down the cliff's face. Possibly it had been a path for goats at one point but had clearly not been used for a time. Suspecting it was probably safe to travel, Kuroo carefully made his way down the path. Keeping his side pasted to the rocky wall, he kept his eyes on the ground in front of him. Pebbles careened off the edge beside him and he would trip once or twice, but nothing that scared him enough to turn back. Once his paws were upon the sand at the bottom of the cliff, he turned his head over his shoulder to spot their prize. Already a few birds had made their way to the carcass and Kuroo had to quickly shoo them away with a couple of snaps of his jaw. Standing next to the bloody deer with its broken neck and legs, he looked up to his brother. "You going to help or not?" He called up before turning his attention back to the deer. "I suppose we can try to get it into pieces and carry it up that way," Kuroo mumbled to himself before looking around for a sharp rock. Didn't Usagi have a knife or something sharp? Sighing, he hadn't thought about this part of the process before they had agreed on it. Or maybe there was a better way like a sling they could use to drag it or somewhere to store it. If they could come back for it later, they could take what they needed from time to time.

6/6 hunting

Usagi knew Kuroo had succeeded in his plans, and as expected, he needed to relish in the excitement for a few seconds as they saw the carcass waiting below. For once he didn’t roll his eyes at his brother’s joy - they had succeeded after all, even if he wasn’t really into the whole ‘invent a thing to kill a thing’ concept. Before long, Kuroo began venturing to towards a narrow path he had found, jutting out from the cliff and clearly hadn’t been used in some time. He huffed, padding after Kuroo, almost hovering over him as if ready to catch the piebald male should the path give way and crumble. He cringed as the pebbles along the way dug in between his toes, shaking them away as they finally reach the bottom. Finally. At least they were all in one piece. As he trotted after his sibling who’d chased off some birds already hanging around the fresh kill, his inquiry into whether he’d help or not received a, "Yeah, I’ll have my Akita grab my sword." He turned his head towards the direction of where he knew his companions had been lingering about - somehow getting into the weirdest of places - how did they get all the way down here? As the brindle dog happily bounded over, sheathed sword in his maw, Usagi took it from the canine and unsheathed it, padding towards the deer. He hadn’t used the weapon much for cutting up prey, but it was sharp and it would do. Slicing the deer into manageable pieces, he finished and began wiping the blade clean on some skinned deer hide as Kuroo suggested they carry the pieces back from whence they came. With that, they’d likely each grab their share of the meat, as much as they could, and begin heading to where they had denned for the night, feasting on the spoils of their grand adventure.

-Exit Usagi-

Speech

wishing there was something left to lose

this could be the day i die for you—