The Elk Hunt

[Kassdc]

Kijah walked along with Traf, following Tes to what she hoped would be the close elk herd. She leaned against Traf's arm as the walked enjoying the closeness, thinking back to the cold nights in her cave when she wished she had a pack there to atleast have some company, someone to share the long nights with. Somehow that shouldn't be a problem now she thought smiling. She looked up at Traf and wondered at the look on his face. He wore a proud smile yes, but there was hurt there and he was watching Tes.

"Traf she will be fine, I am sure the herd is close and we will all feed well and regain our strength. So why the long face?"

[fateandfaith]

Traf sighed and looked over at Kijah, but kept walking. After a moment, he shook his head gently, as it to say 'Not now'. He didn't want to bring up his concerns about Tes in front of Tes. If his kitten wanted to keep her pain private, then he would respect her wishes so long as she seemed okay.

He gave Kijah's hand a gentle squeeze. If she asked, he would tell her, but later, when they were alone. "Nothing. Just need to hunt is all."

[tesumi]

Tes slung on her tall boots over her shoulder as she walked examining the other one. Now that she was fully decided on leaving she would really need to get her act together. First on the list would be to restock on all the supplies she needed, she had some clothing she would need to patch up, jewelry and other trinkets to sell, and these boots apparently needed to have the stitching redone. she thought mournfully, Tes adored her clothing and seeing it torn to pieces did not do well for her. Might as well get some flats made too, these heels aren't going to cut with were I'm going...That might take a day or two if I pay well. Then I'll see if I can find a new cloak, another set of clothing, maybe a few daggers, and a shirt or two... she noted, deciding on just letting Kijah keep the one she had one. It was still finely tailored piece of clothing, even without the sleeves and it seemed to fit her well. Tes eye's drifted back to Traf as she pondered over these distractions that were doing very well in covering her pain. She could see concern deeply rooted in his eyes as he looked her over, and that worried her. He was going to be difficult about her leaving, she could tell already that he had gotten far to attached to her...and that thought made her very very guilty. Tes snapped her head back immediately, it would do not good to feel guilty after all its not like she told them she'd be staying around forever right? I'll leave late in the night then...I'll need to tell someone I'm going away though so they don't think I was dragged off and slaughtered or something. Maybe Kavi? Hmm, yes I'm sure he wouldn't put up a fuss, anyone else might make to much noise and wake the others... she thought with a sigh. She shook off any feeling of remorse and focused on the trail ahead, the scent of elk was getting stronger. Tes ducked under a tree branch and stored her clothing, boots and bag under its roots where she could retrieve it after they hunted before phasing. She lunged forward landing on paw instead of hands, her inner lioness leapt out with a joyous roar sensing a hunt was near. She let out a few quiet chirps, the odd sound not normally used for such occasions but it was as close as she could get to the soft barking signals Kado's clan had used in hunting. Tes fell back on Traf's flank almost smiling now, the thought of hunting like a real pack made her a bit excited. From here all three should be able to follow the scent of the herd easily so Tes stayed in her position behind Traf, letting him lead the hunt. Well Alpha, lets see what you got! Can you really lead a hunt? she teased, smirking to herself.

[fateandfaith]

When the strong musky scent of elk reached his nose, Traf’s stomach protested loudly, warning him not to ignore it for so long again. He wanted to charge the herd, desperately snapping at anything that moved. That might have worked with deer, but not elk, who were far stronger and more dangerous, at both ends. He watched Tes shift, then shot a glance back at Kijah, his amber-gold eyes a bright yellow. He smiled at her, an eager, almost mischievous smile that showed just how excited to hunt he was. When Tes chirped at him, he almost laughed. She was almost…cute. Thinking better of it, he stifled his laughter by freeing the wolf, shifting fluidly.

Not wanting to make any of them wait any longer, he began to creep forward through the brush, mindful of his steps, the caramel colored fur on his belly brushing the ground. His eyes instantly began to scan the herd, trying to pick out a target.

[Kassdc]

Kijah didn't like not knowing what was going on, but she trusted Traf and if he felt it better not to talk, she would accept that. She was thrilled when Tes stopped and put her things down. Finally they must be close, when Tes shifted it only comfirmed her belief. She looked at Traf and wanted to laugh at the devilish look on his face, the wolf wanted out.

When she caught scent of the elk her own wolf screamed to be freed. She took off the shirt Tes had given her and placed it next to Tes's things. She shifted quickly enjoying the feel of the wolf once again. She stretched her muscles getting ready for the hunt and got behind Traf alongside Tes. She wanted to be able to watch them both work, but also needed to keep her mind on the hunt herself. She had never hunted infront of another as a pack so she wanted to make sure she did what was needed to help and not get in anyones way.

She got low behind Traf as he crawled out to scan the herd, she held back unseen waiting to see which one he picked. The elk were strong, they needed to pick a weak one that would both feed them well but not be too much for them, and this she trusted Traf to do, as the alpha it was his choice to choose which elk to target, her duty was to wait and follow suit. For now, they all waited for his move.

[tesumi]

Tes too sunk low to the ground, creeping through the forest. Her golden eyes were glued to the herd, her focus only on them as her inner lioness had completely taken over. A low thrumming sound drifted from her throat, almost a mix between a purr and a growl. It was a happy sound, as she had found her kill.
The largest of the herd, a male with antlers longer than tree branches. He was all muscle and kick, she could see that from here but how fun would it be to take him down? Her muscles tensed and trembled in excitement, but she reined herself in...Traf was leading them today. Ahh, but 2 wolves and a cat can defiantly take him down! she whined, sending a glance over at Traf. She caught his eye and grinned a cat grin, she glance back over to the massive elk then back to him hoping he would understand and agree. Hunting was just the thing she needed to clear her mind

[fateandfaith]

Traf followed Tes' eyes to the big bull. He gave an indignant grunt. The bull was decidedly not the type of target he'd been looking for. They were born and bred hunters all, yes, but they were only three. They were unused to hunting with each other, and their hunger would likely make them all a bit rash in the midst of the hunt. It was reckless, for sure.

But, deep down, he couldn't deny that the second he'd seen what his kitten was eying, his heart had leapt at the prospect of such a kill, a matter of pride for both wolf and man.

He watched the bull wander a few feet to the west to forage. The position was almost perfect, and Traf could not resist. He threw a glance over each shoulder at Tes and Kijah, scratching at the ground with his paw as if indicating them to stay there. Hoping they would understand, he slowly, carefully, rose to his feet, turned around completely, and moved off deeper into the forest.

He circled the herd, carefully to remain just this side of downwind as he moved to the west, positioning himself so that the bull was between him and the herd, with Tes and Kijah on the other side.

All at once, he sprang from the brush at the bull, giving a loud, sharp bark as he moved. The bull was instantly turning and bellowing at his herd. Traf charged after the bull, carefully driving him along a path that would run right past Tes and Kijah, giving them the perfect opportunity.

[Kassdc]

Kijah watched Traf and Tes, they were working on a plan. She watched them and then looked in the direction they were motioning. The bull, what were they nuts?? She had never even thought of attempting a bull. Sure enough Traf motioned for them to stay and left. She could only assume he was circling around to stop any escape route the bull may have. She looked at Tess and waited, she was the prime picture of a ready cat. She was poised and ready for the coming rush. Kijah focused back on the elk when she heard Traf's bark.

The bull bellowed to his cows and started them running, right past her and Tes. Kijah waited for the perfect moment, right when the bull got near them she leapt out and cut off that route, now he and the herd wer between Traf and her and Tes. The cows were running maddly everywhere, but they were not the target, Kijah's eyes were locked on the bull. She knew better than to come from behind and was not going to come at him from the front. She stayed out to the side following waiting for Traf's next move, she had to pick the right time before she attacked. This was already turning out to be the best hunt Kijah had been on so far. She loved working as a team, it was perfect. Or so she thought.

[fateandfaith]

Traf paced himself, staying just out of reach of the elk's hooves as it ran. He continued to snarl and yip, doing his best to keep the animal panicked. When Kijah burst into the clearing, he almost lost his footing, his attention momentarily diverted by the sight of the little sleek red wolf. Before he could actually trip, he corrected and laid into the run flat-out, picking up speed, moving alongside the bull, opposite Kijah. The elk was taller than he was by a few feet, and had at least three and a half times his bodyweight. He generally used his size to take down most prey, but here his size wouldn't be of much use against the elk.

Suddenly, he threw himself forward, extending his stride as far as possible, pushing his speed to the maximum. He veered in front of the elk, dangerously close to the thundering hooves. It was enough to panic the bull into sliding to a halt. Traf circled around, placing himself between the bull and the fleeing herd, forcing the big male to stand his ground. His plan was to keep the animal occupied, to act as bait so that Tes and Kijah could strike from behind.

He bared his teeth in a feral growl and began to dance in and out of the reach of both antler and hoof. All at once, he gathered himself and jumped forward, having found just the right moment to strike. He clamped his teeth down on the bull's throat. Though at first all he tasted was the thick protective fur, but after a second was rewarded a tiny, intoxicating taste of the animal's blood. He hung on for just a moment before releasing his grip, dancing back out of reach before the bull could counterattack. It was well and truly terrified now, furiously lashing out at Traf.

[Kassdc]

Kijah was starting to feel a burning in her shoulder, but ignored it thinking that it was just her muscles lack of work these past couple of weeks. When Traf sped up it caught her off guard and made her lose her footing slightly when she tried to adjust her speed so she could keep him in sight, when she did she came down a bit harder on her left shoulder. This too caused minor pain but Kijah againattributed this to the lack of work.

When he got infront of the bull the bull stopped, giving her the perfect target, she could get a bite in on the back of the neck well out of the way of the antlers. While the bull was occupied with Traf, Kijah prepared herself. She braced and picked the perfect moment and launched herself up at the elk's shoulders, getting her bite in, at the same time Traf attacked the elk at the throat. Kijah growled deep as the blood flowed into her mouth, the wolf hungered for this.

The bull was furious, whether he was enraged at her or Traf this was unknown to her but he fought back. He reared up and started lashing out. He was throwing her around like a rag doll. When he went to attack Traf he managed to throw her. She flew in the air and landed slightly behind the bull. Her shoulder slammed into a rock sending pain shooting throughout her body. The wolf within saw red, she had tasted blood and wanted more. She growled and went to stand up when the pain again shot through her body causing her to yelp.

She should have stayed down, but the wolf didn't listen, she again tried to stand, this time she kept most of her weight off that shoulder. Yes this will work just fine, hunting on three legs. The wolf was far more stubborn than it should have been. Her mind was on the bull, she needed that hunt, she hungered for it. The wolf was taking over.

[fateandfaith]

Traf stopped dead in his tracks when Kijah went flying. He watched, dismayed, as she came down hard. Before he could contain it, he let out a sharp barking growl, his tongue flicking out over his teeth. Instantly he made the move to go to Kijah’s side. In mid-step, he froze, tasting blood from his muzzle. The blood on his tongue and the sight of Kijah struggling to stand on three paws enraged him. So much that once he saw Kijah right herself and knew that she could at least move, his attention shifted back to the bull.

He saw the hoof coming too late, however, to move out of the way completely. The hoof’s sharp edge glanced by him, slamming against the dirt audibly, though on the way back up the elk’s knee caught him on the haunches. It knocked him off balance and seemed to knock the sense right out of him. The man in him went silent, his blood burned. The wound ached with the familiar sensation of an impending bruise. It would hurt, but it didn’t slow him in the least.

He lashed out at the leg nearest to him, not intending to actually score. Much to his surprise, his teeth tore into the elk’s leg, flooding his mouth with blood again, the bull’s previous wounds clearly having an effect. He wasn’t able to hold on as the bull jerked away from him. With blood on his tongue, dripping from his muzzle, he began to dance again, doing everything he could to hold the elk’s attention.

[emmaline]

When Traf sent the herd running, Reg scrambled down from his tree and around the edge of the clearing. The others were distracted by the hunt and wouldn't notice him. He frolicked through the bushes and stopped, peering through branches to the panicked beasts. One of the cows was careening in Reg's general direction. Time for a little fun! He bunched himself up and, when the cow was close enough, bounded out in great, leaping hops. He let out a high-pitched squeal, chattering and dashing straight towards the elk. The cow thrust her legs out in front of her, eyes rolling to show more white than iris, skidding to a stop and nearly falling over with the effort. She quickly gathered her feet under herself again and clambered off in another direction. Nearly wheezing with humor--an elk fleeing a rat!--Reg skipped back to the bushes, dodging the falling hooves of more running elk.

--Something amusing you?-- Kavi questioned, voice distant over the length between the link.

--Elk!-- was all Reg managed to force out, mind degenerating into peals of laughter again.

He settled into a thorny bush, knowing the elk would try to avoid it and thus save him the trouble of moving more, and watched more of the hunt. It seemed to be going well when suddenly Kijah was thrown! Reg scrambled to the front of the bush, but the wolf was already climbing to her feet. He hesitated, but if he went out there now the wolves would see him and worry that they would need to protect him. Distraction wasn't good for them right now, not if they wanted to get away with no more injuries, so he settled back on his haunches to wait for the big bull to be pulled down. It wouldn't be long now.

[tesumi]

Tes sprang from the clearing, ceasing to be anything but a lion. There were no thoughts except to kill, to taste the blood. She sent out a ear splitting roar as she galloped forward after Kijah easily over taking her. As tough and fierce as Tes played nothing came close to her on a hunt, Traf's little 'kitten' looked deadly.
She veered to the side dodging the fleeing cows, her golden eyes locked on the big bull...he was her target. Tes circled the angry bull waiting for the opportune moment, letting the wolves work him into position. She was beginning to think she had waited to long as Kiah was tossed off to the side, but wait! There was an opening and if Traf kept distracting him she might have a chance. Another ferocious snarl ripped from her chest and she plunged forward dodging the elks blows. The elk paused only for a moment to whirl around but that was enough, Tes launched herself up wards and onto the elks back. If she could have laughed in this form she might have then, because she had one trick the wolves didn't have...claws. She dung her nails into the bull's haunches and shoulders holding on for dear life. Her teeth clamped down on the side of its neck ripping at the wound Traf had already opened. The massive elk tossed its head back its branch like antler cutting into her shoulder, but that only drove her harder. She could smell her own blood now and it fueled her with rage. With her teeth still clamp on his neck, she jerked her head up pulling open an vein as she did. Blood spewed from the wound wetting her coat, dieing it crimson. Tes retracted her claws and leapt from his body by pushing off his haunches. The movement caused the already weak elks back legs to buckle and go down. He still had fight in him, but to Tes he was already as good as dead so she was satisfied. Again she grinned a cat grin and licked the blood from her muzzle, Your move Traf, Kijah...
(ahhhh bad postttt >_< sorry!)

[fateandfaith]

(Nono, it was good. I think it set things up well.)

Even with the elk's blood coating the ground, the sharp smell of lion's blood hit Traf hard, sobering him slightly. He had been enjoying the hunt, relishing the smell of the bull's blood and the adrenaline in the air. Now reality slammed into him. His side ached when he breathed from the blow of the bull's knee, Tes was bleeding, and he had no idea how Kijah was, save that she was favoring a paw. The bull needed to come down, and sooner rather than later.

As the elk still struggled back onto its back legs, Traf seized the opportunity and darted in. He had to move to the side as the elk slashed at him with his antlers, but it gave him an even better angle. He moved in from the side, and clamped his mouth down around the elk's muzzle.

A normal wolf would not have been large enough to even attempt it, but he was just big enough. His mouth covered both nostrils, the force of his jaw clamping the elk's mouth shut. With the bull panicking and bleeding heavily, it would take less than a minute to strangle it, providing he could hold on long enough. The bull thrashed wildly, its death likely flashing before its terrified eyes.

[Kassdc]

The wolf in Kijah growled in hunger as the scent of the bull's blood reached her once again, how ever it was soon followed by the scent of Tes's blood. She fought an inner battle trying to gain herself over the wolf. She had to go about this smart if she wanted to walk away. She hungered for blood yes, but that was fast in coming. Tes had got her mark and had further weakened the elk, he was down but not out, yet. She stood up and made a move to go in on the bull but the pain in her shoulder was too intense, it wouldn't allow her to move the way she needed.

Traf was on the bull's muzzle, she started to move trying to position herself to be able to move, just incase Traf lost his grip, the bull would run paniced more so than he was before, she needed to be able to move. She turned and started to look for a spot to wait when she tried to use her leg. Damn I can't do this. The pain was too intense, she was too weak from not hunting she couldn't hold the wolf form much longer. She had to back off, shifting to her human form was not a good idea with the paniced animals.

She looked at Tes and barked and looked at the woods and back to Tes, hoping that she understood. Kijah had to move back. She held up her paw making sure she put no weight on it whatso ever, once more and the pain would cause her to shift right then and there. When she got into the trees she slid down against one and shifted once more to human form. She reached up and held her shoulder wincing back from the pain of her own touch. She leaned her head back on the tree as the thoughts of the hunt came back into her mind, she barely remembered her brief flight, the pain of the rock however, was fresh as could be. Traf is going to love me for this one.

She could just see the look in his eyes, she knew he would want to examine her fully to see what other injuries she was hiding. He would see her shoulder and get pissed, then, he would see her leg. She could remember the look in his eyes when she mentioned briefly the fight between her and Mitra. This was not going to be good. She had nothing to do now but to close her eyes and wait.