A Real Bloodbath (Juice)

[Deleted]

The silver eyes of a dark form watched the goings on around her. She had to be wary, for it was that time of year when the large herbivores of the area started their mating and became an even greater danger to those that would hunt them.

Luckily, Bloodbath wasn't a fool. She can wait until the cold winter for them to weaken for easier hunting days. Since she lived alone, she found that rabbits and those smaller animals like them were far better to go after. She had even killed a fox once, though some part of her wasn't sure if that felt right.

At this moment, she pushed those thoughts away. Her ears were perked and on full alert. That was her priority right now, being alert...because that was the best way to keep herself alive while on the hunting plains...lest a deer decide it wasn't going to tolerate her presence and try to kill her.

She sighed, sniffing the wind for hints of a good prey target.

[Juice]

A white wolf with flowing fury slowly trotted into the plains. Her orange eyes scanned the horizon for food, she was very hungry and very weary. It had been a long spring for her what with how busy the pack seemed to have gotten. She needed a break from it all and had managed to sneak away for a quick hunt. Piala didn't know what she had come all the way to the plains for, after all it was usually bigger game that came around here. She really just wanted to travel out of the meadows for awhile.

Piala's eyes saw the other wolf before she caught the scent. She was red in color, almost akin to blood, similar to the red coloring in Piala's own fur. She didn't smell of any particular pack but Piala was a bit far away so she couldn't be exactly sure. It would be awfully nice to have a hunting partner, especially for the big game that made a home in the plains. "Hello" she barked out to the stranger. Even if the wolf was hostile, Piala was still far enough from her to run at any sign of danger.

[Gyllbane]

.:Autumn has come - it is still early in the season, and the weather is still fairly warm, but there is a nip in the air that cannot be denied. Rutting season has begun, and an older male elk has one eye on a herd of several females, and one on a clearly younger male, who stands at the edge of the treeline. A few hares, fat with preparations for winter, graze close to their warren. A few geese honk loudly at the edge of a small pond, not having left for warmer climes yet.:.

[Deleted]

She sniffed again, to make sure she got everything. So large and dangerous herbivores, fat hares, and those big birds that strangely eat grass.

She contemplated for a moment and figured to stay away from the herbivores...maybe she could catch a bird by pretending to drink by the pond..

But her thoughts were cut off when another wolf barked out to her, her ears still fully peaked up and her head almost snapping to look at her. "Hello.." she replied, only fairly uncertain what the stranger wanted. There was a good chance that they wanted to work together for a bigger meal...that most likely meeant that they were a good or nuetral wolf. She had no issues with a partnership, but she hoped it was a neutral wolf. The goods she had met didn't really seem to like ehr once they learned her name.

[Juice]

The wolf didn't seem hostile to Piala so she trotted forward in approach. Her tail was held high, more due to habit than anything else. As she trotted towards the stranger she sniffed the air and scanned the plains. She picked up the scent of geese, elk and hares. It would be incredibly difficult to go after the elk even if there were two of them, especially during rutting season when they all seemed to be on edge. The hares would make a good meal if they could catch enough of them. The same was true of the geese as well. "Hi. My name is Piala. I'm sorry to intrude, I just thought maybe you'd like a hunting partner. I know I could sure use one. Did you come out in search of a particular prey or..?" Piala left the question open ended to see what prey the other wolf would prefer to go after.

[Deleted]

Bloodbath felt the need to stand up, even though she was trying to remain low and hidden amongst the dying grass. It was the other wolf that made her feel the need, that high tail of hers bothering Bloodbath, who was not going to be dominated by a stranger.

"I came for no particular prey. Being used to voles and rabbits, I make do with what I can get. And what of you? Were you thinking of teaming up for fat hares or elk?" she paused as her eyes returned to the elk, making sure they weren't getting any dangerous ideas in their heads about them. "Do you suppose we should let them fight, and then take on the loser?" she asked quietly, as a sort of after-thought.

[Juice]

Piala was a very intuitive wolf which was one of the reasons she made a good alphess. She could sense the other wolf's tension and lowered her tail. She wanted to make it clear to the red wolf that they were equals. "Actually I came out here to get some peace from my pack. And I'm hungry." Piala said with a smile. "I suppose we could take down an elk together if you're interested. However, since they're rutting it may not be safe to go after them. They're pumped full of hormones that make them aggressive. I suppose we can try to chase after the young one by the treeline, the older one is definitely out of the question. He's keeping watch over his herd but that young one...he seems distracted so I think we may be able to go after him. If that doesn't work we can always make a meal out of the hares." Piala looked expectantly at the other wolf before realizing she didn't even know her name. "Oh, what is your name by the way?"

[Deleted]

Bloodbath took in the other wolf's words, glad that there were no more misunderstandings between them about rank. They were both lone stranger wolves after all, just out to get a meal. She listened intently about the food situation too. Yes, the older one was big and still appeared healthy. It was not a fight for a wise wolf.

She stayed silent, still calculating, until the other wolf spoke about names. Not wanting to ruin things she spoke swiftly and to the point, "For now, you can call me Stranger."

She looked over at the warren, "The hares are near their home. Do you think we can give chase to the elk, and expect them not to run too?"

There was the sound of mild doubt, but there was always the chance that the hares were fat and comfortable enough to only hop out of the way as much as they felt was needed. "then again...if we herd it towards the warren..."

Yea..she was a very thoughtful wolf. But she was also very hungry and wanted to keep her meal options more open then having to chase vole down again.

[Juice]

Piala's ear twitched slightly as the wolf mentioned her name was Stranger. It was clear she was going by an alias but Piala decided it was best not to ask questions. If Stranger wanted her to know her true identity, she would tell her when the time was right. If not, then so be it.

"Ahh well the hares are simple minded creatures. They react solely on instinct and their instinct in the warren is telling them they are safe. Unless we set foot in the warren they will not feel threatened. However, if they manage to scurry into their holes they can prove difficult to get out. I'd say we should try for the youngster." Piala nodded her head at the yearling elk who was pawing at the ground in frustration. "Are you fast?" Piala asked bluntly. She herself was quick in very short bursts but she didn't have the speed necessary for what she had planned. Piala's strength was her endurance more so than speed. "If you're fast, you can creep through the treeline until you get near the elk. You will be hidden among the trees and, because the female elk are in heat, they are emitting a very powerful pheromone so the youngster probably won't scent you." Piala squinted her orange eyes and scanned the plains once more. "If you crouch and wait, I can make a straight line towards the elk in the tall grass to stay out of sight. I can then spring up and chase him into the treeline where you'll be waiting." It was not a guaranteed plan as the elk may be able to scent either of them coming towards him if the wind changed, but it was still quite solid and Piala was confident it would work. "What do you think Stranger?" she asked.

[Deleted]

Bloodbath smiled a little as the other wolf went on and called her stranger. But her attention went right back to food. She nodded, her body ready to go. "I am fast. "

She stated, and although she didn't particularly like the idea of having an elk flushed towards her where she'd take it on, she calculated that their chances of success might increase if they ran him into the warren...but that was if the stealth thing didn't work. "In the treeline,then."

She trotted off in a diagonal line towards the trees but far enough away from the young elk so that she had time to get out of sight and sneak up into position.

[Juice]

Piala nodded silently as Stranger began padding towards the treeline. She crouched in the tall grass and kept her orange eyes on Stranger's form moving through the trees. The other wolf was hidden quite well and Piala's stomach rumbled slightly as she thought about sinking her teeth into a tasty elk. Finally Stranger was in position and Piala knew it was time to go in for the attack. She stealthily slid through the grass until she was upon the yearling. He seemed not to have noticed her presence because he was distracted by the older elk which was perfect. Piala took a mighty leap forward and began chasing the elk head on, hoping to herd him into the treeline where Stranger was waiting.

[Gyllbane]

.: The young male immediately darts away from Piala, taken completely by surprise - he barrels right towards Bloodbath, unaware of the wolf's presence. The older male senses the commotion and brays a warning to his herd; they begin to huddle, but do not run yet; and the older male holds his ground, stomping and braying He could be a danger if the wolves get too close to him. The hares dart into their warrens, and the geese honk even louder as they take flight. :.

[Deleted]

Bloodbath's Body is tenced with anticipation. She has no time to heed the older beast, her entire attention is on not getting completely trampled by the one heading straight towards her. When he's close enough, she darts out, curving her path a little so that she can attempt to lunge at his neck from the side instead of taking him head on where his ho0rns are.

[Juice]

Piala smiled as she ran, happy that the youngster was surprised by her sudden appearance and running straight for Stranger. Her right ear twitched as she heard the warning call of the older male but she couldn't worry about it now. She only hoped the herd would not stampede towards she and her partner. Picking up speed, Piala watched as Stranger darted from the treeline and lunged at the side of the youngster's neck. It was a smart move as she could avoid a head on collision with antlers. Piala crouched low to the ground and sprinted forward near the youngster's legs, biting and snapping at them to get him to lose his footing.

[Gyllbane]

.: The older male, having decided it was safer to leave than to stand his ground once he saw the second wolf appear, brays a warning to the rest of his herd - they quickly lope off in the opposite direction, no worse for the wear. Bloodbath dodges the younger male successfully - she gets a hold on the base of his neck - not a killing blow, but a strong enough grip to slow down the terrified elk. This makes Piala's bites more successful, and she sinks her teeth into its back leg enough to tear the tendon - the male stumbles and falls forward heavily, braying mightily. He is wounded, but he still has strength. His head thrashes about, antlers threatening some serious harm to Bloodbath if she's not careful. :.