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Post by Cascade on May 25, 2014 11:18:21 GMT -5
The day was young, morning dew still clinging to the grass, but some clouds had moved in to cover the summer sun. That was alright by Perjury, because she and Vanitas were headed to the bluffs later and milder weather was a blessing there. But she didn't want to visit the Honovi empty-handed, let alone with an empty stomach, so she had headed a bit northwest of their territory in the forest to a choice hunting ground. Rabbits and fish were fine for an afternoon snack, but Perjury had her eye out for larger game, something that could feed herself, Vanitas, and leave a little left over as a gift for Treason.
The Amoux Creek and one of its major branches ran through this area, so Perjury was hopeful that deer would be nearby, drinking the cool water and feasting on the rich vegetation near the banks of the creek. She looked back to make sure that Vanitas was close behind. It wouldn't be their first hunt together, but it would be his first time visiting the Honovi so she hoped that he didn't get too dirtied up, not that it would be easy to notice given his coat color. Focusing her power, the alphess tried to feel out vibrations in the soil that would indicate prey.
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Post by Gyllbane on May 25, 2014 12:57:31 GMT -5
Vanitas trotted easily behind Perjury; the day had grown slightly less sweltering, and for that he was grateful. He'd been itching to get some exercise, and a hunt seemed like just the thing to liven up the day - too hot, though, and they would've ended up expending more energy than it was worth. He stopped beside Perjury, noticing first her concentration, then the glowing power mark almost out of sight on her inner thigh - she was up to something. He held back any comments he might have made, concerned about disrupting her focus. The inner workings of the mountain's magic were still a mystery to him.
Instead, he lifted his head to the faint breeze, breathing deeply. Maybe Perjury could rely on her powers, but he had no qualms about seeking prey the old-fashioned way.
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Post by Juice on May 25, 2014 14:08:19 GMT -5
.:The days are warm and pleasant. Vegetation is plentiful and in full bloom. A herd of deer are located north of the wolves' location, feasting in a clover patch. The summer heat and rich bounty have made the deer full and sleepy however, a large buck is watching over the herd and there are other bucks near although they are not as attentive. To the east is a rabbit warren teeming with new life. The baby rabbits from spring are a bit grown now and have gotten fat from the grasses and plants they feast on. While they are simple animals and thus easy prey, they are in their warren which is their home and they are familiar with the many holes and burrows in which they reside. These holes could prove cumbersome to any creature who may step in one and lose their footing:.
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Post by Cascade on May 25, 2014 14:22:56 GMT -5
There appeared to be many good options today. Perjury was quickly tempted to go after the rabbits—she and Vanitas could scare them back into their warren and then she could collapse the tunnels with her power, easily suffocating them and getting them enough rabbits to feed the entire Honovi. But she hadn't gone all the way out here and taken Vanitas with her just so they could eat rabbit. One wolf couldn't take down a full-grown deer, but two could and she wanted to seize the opportunity when she had it.
Wordlessly, she gestured toward the deer and then stalked around a particularly fat one in a wide semi-circle, being careful to keep her scent out of the wind. When she stopped, she was a ways away from Vanitas, opposite him and with the deer in between. Dealing with a whole herd like this with only two wolves was tough, but her power filled a vital role that made success possible. He would alert the deer and drive them toward her, and when one got just close enough she would use her power to collapse the soil beneath its feet. At best, it would instantly break the animal's legs and bring it to a complete halt. If not that, then it might at least make it stumble long enough for her to jump up and latch onto its throat.
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Post by Gyllbane on May 25, 2014 14:36:15 GMT -5
Vanitas caught the scent of the deer just as Perjury pointed them out - good, then. They wouldn't have to resort to the nearby rabbits; although fat, they didn't provide the same sense of satisfaction that deer did. He watched her as she maneuvered around the herd, making a particularly wide berth around one on the edge of the herd; he could almost see her plan form in her head as she stalked, and had to hold back a smile at the ingenuity that his alpha showed. On their own they might have had some trouble with a herd this large, but her power was a distinct advantage that he was suddenly very glad to have - he wasn't quite sure how she would use it yet, not having witnessed the full scope of her abilities, but he knew she must have had something up her sleeve.
Once she was in place, he crept as close as he was sure he could without spooking the deer. He estimated his line of attack one last time, and took off at a dead sprint, hoping to drive the deer directly to Perjury and whatever she had in store.
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Post by Juice on May 25, 2014 15:26:47 GMT -5
.:The wolves manage to stay out of scent range of the deer. The attentive buck catches site of Vanitas and alerts the herd. He stands his ground and lowers his antlers, thrashing dangerously at the wolf. The few other bucks run along the side of the herd to make sure they are all going in the correct direction but the deer, many younglings, panic and two split off from the group. Both female. They both barrel towards Perjury head on, her scent is still hidden and they are unaware of her presence:,
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Post by Cascade on May 25, 2014 15:33:12 GMT -5
The moment can not be squandered. Though she sees that Vanitas is being threatened by the buck, she must trust that he can protect himself until she can come to his aid. Focusing intently on the steps of the deer running towards her, Perjury summons her power and quickly depresses a large ditch where she expects the females will fall, then leaps up out of her hiding place and grabs at one's neck with her jaws, hoping to make a clean kill on a stunned animal so that she could run to Vanitas' aid.
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Post by Gyllbane on May 25, 2014 16:07:09 GMT -5
The older buck turning towards Vanitas is not a complete shock to the wolf - he had seen the male on the fringes, had seen many bucks like this one before in his hunts. If he were to slow himself and stop without changing direction, he would run the risk of clashing head-on with the buck, an idea that did not appeal to him in the slightest. He knew better than to actively attack the creature - it could spell injury or death for him if he did. He noted briefly the two that had barreled off towards Perjury, who was in the midst of an ambush against them, but she would have to handle them on her own for the time being - at least until he could get the buck off his trail.
He changed his trajectory, away from the rest of the herd and from Perjury, in the hopes that his movement would make the buck have to choose between protecting the rest of the herd that is escaping, and pursuing him.
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Post by Juice on May 25, 2014 23:21:23 GMT -5
.:The wolves are crafty and are rewarded for standing their ground. The females, blind with fear, run straight into Perjury's trap. One of the females manages to gain enough footing to make a gigantic leap to safety, just on the edge of the ditch. The other is not so lucky and stumbles into it. The ditch is just deep enough to ensnare the doe and she snaps an ankle trying to jump out. The buck is momentarily distracted by the cries from the doe that has fallen into the ditch and he quickly abandons Vanitas to tend to his comrade. The buck stands on the opposite side of the ditch as Perjury and snorts in frustration but calls of distress from his herd reach his ears and he chooses to get them out of the plains safely and cannot stay to protect the doe. The buck runs away leaving the doe vulnerable. Although she is incapacitated and lying in the ditch, her back legs still work and she kicks wildly in fear. Now is the time to strike the killing blow:.
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Post by Cascade on May 26, 2014 11:45:13 GMT -5
Nothing better than success. Perjury sank her teeth into the incapacitated doe's neck, taking great care to keep its bucking legs on the opposite side of her. It wouldn't be long now. She didn't dare to divide her attention by looking for Vanitas, but the sound of the buck snorting at her and then retreating was confirmation enough that the danger was gone. The deer's struggling finally subsided, and Perjury let go of its throat to gaze down at the wealth of meat. It had been too long since Perjury had enjoyed a deer, and one of its haunches would make a fine gift for Treason.
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Post by Gyllbane on May 26, 2014 14:19:50 GMT -5
Vanitas balked a little when he saw the buck run towards Perjury - the ditch still acted as a separator, however, and he breathed a quiet sigh of relief as the male went to protect the rest of his herd. Perjury made quick work of killing the deer as he arrived at the ditch. He had grown used to her power enough that the earthy depression did not completely surprise him; still, he had to marvel at its efficiency and her ingenuity. It wasn't every day that two wolves could take down a full-grown deer from a herd, especially with the threats that the bucks posed.
"A fine gift to the Honovi." He said, and waited to make sure that she had begun eating before he dug in. It wasn't an official pack hunt, but he figured he still owed her respect as his superior - not to mention she'd been key in taking the deer down in the first place.
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Post by Cascade on May 28, 2014 19:41:42 GMT -5
The deer was good. It had been too long since she'd eaten such a hearty meal, but it was worth the wait. She made a mental note of Vanitas' show of respect as she licked the blood from her lips, before turning back to the ditch she had made and bringing the soil back to its original shape. Better to leave things as they found them; too much mucking about with the dirt and leaving it that way would mean a sorry-looking valley after a while.
Once she had eaten her fill, Perjury got to work separating one of the deer's legs at the haunch to be their gift. A memory came to her and she was unsure whether or not to share it with Vanitas, but decided for it. "You know, Treason used to tease me for being a bad hunter. Back before I had this amount of control over my power, I wasn't very useful during pack hunts. I should only hope to see some embarrassment on her face when I'm the one ensuring she has food." It was a light-hearted jab, and she laughed. It felt good to have someone like Vanitas who she could laugh around, because even to a duty-loving wolf like Perjury it got hard to stay businesslike all the time.
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Post by Gyllbane on Jun 1, 2014 16:59:52 GMT -5
He had not had quite as filling a meal as deer in a long time - rabbits and voles were plentiful and provided the nutrition he needed, but there was nothing quite like taking down a large herbivore for a meal.
He gave a chuckle at her story, and was surprised to hear her laugh - she seemed like an all-business all the time wolf. Awhile ago it would've given him pause, reason to doubt her strength as a leader - now, though, it was pleasant to see that she wouldn't drive herself headlong into oblivion by being focused on nothing but her duties. It was good to have an alpha who could be humorous as long as she was able to be serious, something he had no doubts that Perjury was.
"Indeed. Though I hope she doesn't grow used to it; it's not every day two wolves alone can take down a deer with so little risk." His voice was lighthearted; he had no doubts that the alphess of the Honovi was a capable one. Her relation to Perjury should have been reason enough on its own, but from the way Perjury had spoken about her, she seemed a strong leader.
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Post by Cascade on Jun 10, 2014 14:59:24 GMT -5
"Yes, that's very true. A little recognition would be nice, but I'll not have her think for a second that we will be her designated hunters." Perjury smiled to herself and began separating one of the deer's legs from the rest of its body. It was a good-sized haunch, plenty to eat and a respectable gift for a fellow alphess.
"Come now, the Honovi lands are not far from here. If you haven't spent much time in the company of neutrals before, they are not like us," she paused, "However, they are also not so unlike us. You may notice the differences between neutral and evil, but try not to dwell on them too much."
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