Terra is out on the hunt again, searching for another suitable prey animal to bring back to Lotus. The scent of many creatures has drawn the girl out to this grove of willow trees and, from within their long branches, she spies some suitable targets. A small group of buffalo drink from the cool water that surrounds the grove, their tails lazily swatting at flies that try to land on their rumps. Emerald green eyes scan the few large animals that crowd the bank, hoping to find a younger, smaller one among them.

Body lays still in the grass near them as she looks, the wind working with her and keeping her scent away from the animals. While there is no youngster near the group, she does hear a sound in the grass a little way off and turns to find her prize grazing there. The herd has grown confident in their ability to survive and the worry for the younger one wandering too far has waned. Unfortunately for them, Terra is very hungry and, she is confident that, if someone appears, the young buffalo will not leave this place alive.


"Terra Qilaq"

The willows were a relaxing place to Iðunn, but she wasn't here to sit with her eyes closed and listen to the gentle whooshing of wind through the branches or lapping of water against the bank. She was here to hunt. Her food stores were dwindling again, and she wanted to add to it before it fully ran out. Too many times over the past year had that happened, each leaving her to chew on sticks and grass to keep the hunger at bay before she could find her next meal. She did her best to think ahead, but it was hard on her own, harder than she had originally anticipated.

The wind brought with it the musk of buffalo, as well as a familiar wolfy scent. Terra. Ears pricking forward, she began to move forward at speed, but taking care to where she stepped and keeping her lithe body low to the ground. It would be a shame to give away their advantage now.

She crept up behind the girl, snuffling softly to announce her presence without alerting the herd that was drinking from the pond. Her gaze spotted a younger buffalo off on its own in the grass, the adults seemingly not as protective as they would have been if it was younger. Lucky for her and Terra.

"You take lead this time?" It was only fair since Iðunn had made the plan last time, and the fact that Terra had found the buffalo first.

Hunting 1/3

Black-rimmed ears turn back at the soft sound, the girl’s head turning a moment later to find Iðunn approaching silently. A grin tugs at her lips as the older wolf joins her and the girl waits to hear what she thinks. Terra cannot help the flash of surprise that crosses her features but she quickly covers it with a happy smile. Dipping her head in agreement, she says, “Alright.” Green gaze turns back to the young buffalo and she quickly works to put together a plan.

Eyes find a large bush that is some ways out but it would perfect for concealing a wolf. Pointing paw to it, she says, “You hide in that bush. I’ll drive the animal to you and together we take it down. Okay?” Eyebrows raise in silent question as she waits for the woman’s approval before the experienced wolf moves off. Patiently, Terra waits in her hiding place, looking from the young buffalo to where she expects to find a set of blue eyes staring back at her.

Once Iðunn reaches the spot and signals her readiness, Terra takes a deep breath and holds it. With a sharp nod as her only warning to her hunting partner, she releases the held breath and, at the same, time pushes off the ground. She raises, running swiftly and silently towards the waiting target. A sound of alarm rings out but the herd is too far away to help and she is swift to begin driving the creature toward the waiting ambush.


"Terra Qilaq"

The plan is sound, and Iðunn agrees wordlessly with a single nod, wasting not time in stalking towards the bush in a circular path to stay downwind and out of sight. The young buffalo was obliviously munching away on the grass, its back half-turned to her location. Once hidden within the bush she crouched, head swiveling to glance back at Terra and make eye contact. She slightly raised a forepaw to signal she was ready, and then returned her full focus back to the young buffalo.

Terra is off with astounding speed, and Iðunn can hear the cacophony of warning roars and snorts from the adults. The young buffalo is alerted, but it's far too late as Terra sends it running her way. Tilting forward on her tiptoes, she waits eagerly, almost vibrating in anticipation as both wolf and buffalo get closer and closer until finally-

She leaps forth from the bush. The young buffalo lets out a squeal as Iðunn lands on its flank, for a moment almost slipping off but finally latching on with her jaws around its knee. With a twist of her head she dislocates the joint and the young buffalo stumbles, but doesn't quite fall. But now it was hobbled, and she continued to work her jaws into the flesh, digging her back heels into the ground to slow it further. It was now Terra's turn to make a move.

Hunting 2/3

Terra races toward the young buffalo, long legs galloping across the earth with ease. The young animal startles and turns to flee but it is forced to go in the direction of the wolf’s choosing. Hooves pound the ground as blood thunders in her ears, the thrill of the hunt singing in every fiber of her being. Closer and closer the pair draw to the ambush point and, as they charge alongside it, Iðunn springs out from her hiding spot.

The experienced woman is able to dislocate the left hind knee of the beast but it continues to  try and hobble onward, determined to shake the wolves. Terra runs up its left side and launches herself at the side of its throat. Unbalanced and scared, her move forces the buffalo to try and brace, which means placing more weight on its dislocated joint. With a cry of pain, the leg buckles and the trio fall to the earth. It thrashes wildly, trying to uses its hooves to keep the predators away.

Releasing her grip, Terra moves to pin the front legs to the ground and shouts, “Go for the kill Iðunn!” With its front legs pinned and its only good back leg pressed against the ground, the beast has no defenses left to fight them off with. Not that it doesn’t still try to anyway.


"Terra Qilaq"

Iðunn hangs on tightly, ferociously snarling as Terra streaks past her to grab at the young buffalo's front. Before she even really knows what is happening it cries out and buckles beneath her, but she refuses to let go even as the other leg flies dangerously close to her side as they all go tumbling to the ground. It is only when the girl shouts at her to finish it that Iðunn finally releases her grip, wasting no time in dodging the flailing limbs as she grabs right under the chin where the skin was the thinnest.

Just like with their other hunt, she feels a satisfying crunch between her jaws, extended canines sinking deep into the flesh as she rips and tears. Blood soaks down her chin and chest this time as she goes for a fast kill over a clean one, wanting to finish it before one of them got kicked in the face by a sharp hoof. The young buffalo groans, its bleats getting more quiet as the legs begin to still. Only when it stops moving does Iðunn pull back, a rare grin on her face as she licks her lips. She feels a slight ache in her shoulder from the tumble, but it was nothing a little food and rest couldn't help with.

The older members of the buffalo herd remain near the pond, knowing it was too late to save their young, but still letting out snorts and grunts directed their way. As long as they stayed over there Iðunn was not worried. She turns to face Terra then. "You hunt well." Twice now they had been successful as a pair, and she would not be opposed to any hunts in the future if they continued to cross paths. "Same deal as last time?" Sharing the carcass had gone well for her, keeping her fed for far longer than the smaller prey she was often forced to catch, and would be happy to split it into two again with Terra.

Hunting 3/3