Dawnlark Plains all my dreams are in a width of languages my tongue can speak

when she awoke the next day, the swirling sea of grief abated, replaced mostly be a tight dagger-point of it against her heart. for a long moment she did not move from @Aditya's side, thinking, reflecting. things seemed clearer, sharper with sleep, even if they were a little greyer. she rose quietly, blinking at the sinking sun and judging there to be a few more hours of daylight left. 

she could not hesitate, could not doubt what she'd said to Sunny. otherwise, she'd sink back into that sea, and that she would not do. she'd yet to see @Dauntless, or @Aviana following all the events of yesterday, and it was one of these two she made it her goal to seek as she moved over the plains, neglection in her single-mindedness to do much about the stiff, dried blood coating her tail. she'd find one of them, and hunt, and find use. she did not need to do the calculations to discover that they had a frightfully low amount of hunters, and she threw that worry on top of the fast-growing pile in the rear of her mind.

Aviana was unaware of the fight that had transpired between Sunny and Dawn. Really, she was unaware of most of what was happening in the pack as of late. Her pregnancy had taken up the majority of her mind, and since her appetite had increased exponentially, she spent a lot of time hunting small game. Within the past few days, she had started to feel tiny movements in her abdomen, though she wasn't quite sure exactly what it was. 

It was what she was doing when Dawn's scent, mixed with blood, caught her attention. Her head lifted up, and she chuffed when she caught sight of her friend. She didn't immediately see the signs of an altercation, but when she did, worry floated through her expression. Hey, Dawn, are you okay? she asked.

she found Aviana soon enough, or perhaps, it was the other way around. her head twisted to catch sight of the woman, not bothering to try quite for a smile and instead offering a chuff in return. to her question, she offered a weary, "I'm alright."  she was doing fine, if fine meant just remaining above the surface of her grief, her duties. 

she didn't care for wallowing, not now and not anymore, and thus she paused in her step, quick to suggest what had been on her mind. "hunt with me?"  they could not then, when they had goal, purpose, some task that would have her feeling useful.

With the blood nad haggard appearance, Aviana was glad to hear that Dawn was alright. She was about to ask what happened, but Dawn changed the subject and asked Aviana to hunt instead. For a fraction of a section, the agouti female thought about asking anyways, but she decided against it. 

Instead, she nodded. I'd love to, she responded. Lead the way, she added. She figured Dawn already had a prey in mind, and if so, Aviana would gladly go along with it.

Aviana agreed swiftly, and Dawn almost managed a smile as she turned on her heel and led the pregnant woman to the western edge of the plains, speaking as they went. "there's been a group of pheasants nesting near the edge of the morass. it'll take some searching, but they'll fill our caches nicely."  she could lose herself in hunting, in her duty to ensure the pack went fed. her gaze shifted back to aviana, waiting for her to agree to the plan before offering her plan to take down as many as possible.

It had been a little while since Aviana had tried her paw at birds, and she nodded quickly in agreement. After you, she responded, assuming she would follow Dawn to where they were. I'm a little rusty on birds, she confessed quietly. What's your plan of action? she asked.

---

she moved in the general direction of where she'd seen them last, Aviana following closely. focus shifted abruptly to the hunt and only that, half her attention on the older woman by her side. we should split up - we'll be able to find them faster. when either of us does, give a call for the other." she was silent a moment, considering. "whoever calls first ought to wait in place while the other circles around and forces the herd toward the first." gaze traveled to Aviana as she faltered, close enough now that the birds would surely be nearby, somewhere. her head canted a fraction, gaze seeking approval and agreement, should the other woman find it satisfactory.

She listened carefully to Dawn's instructions, and nodded her agreement. Good plan, she voiced. I'll go this way, she added, looking to Dawn to see if that was alright with her. If so, Aviana would head out in that direction. 

Whichever way she went, she huntress put her nose to the ground to see if she could pick up a scent on the birds. Her eyes scanned the area in front of and around her, looking for signs they had been here. While there were small hints here and there, Aviana did not find the group of birds. She wondered if Dawn was having any more luck, and kept her ears perked in case she called.

---

she too finds hints and recent nesting places, but not enough to offer a clear trail, and never the birds themselves. frustrations mounts slowly, carefully, and her movements become stiff with tension after every failed investigation into a scent. 

a spot of movement has her heart do an odd little skip inside her chest; after so long off failed findings, the success is jolting. she offers a soft call for Aviana, fixated in the movement in the underbrush; unable to get much closer lest the wind push her scent towards the birds, their keen beady gaze catch her own movement.

So focused was she in finding the birds that she didn't know how much time had passed when Dawn's soft call rang out. Her ear swiveled in the direction it came, and her head and body soon followed. She was careful to be silent and light on her feet. Her eyes darted to and fro, trying to catch sight of the birds that Dawn had alerted her to. 

Movement, finally. Aviana's body froze, except for her eyes. She knew where the bird was, now she needed to know where Dawn was. Her eyes searched beyond their intended prey, and it took her a few moments to find her hunting partner. Every time she thought the bird was looking, she moved a little more into position. When she was finally there, she focused on what her technique would be to herd it towards Dawn. 

Slowly, she crept forward, this time purposely stepping down on a crunchy leaf before she froze. The bird's head came up, and seemed to look directly at her. Aviana didn't move a muscle. Didn't even breath. The bird's instincts told it to be nervous, but as it didn't see anything, it didn't fly away. It did, however, move a little further away from Aviana, and closer to Dawn. Her plan was working. 

It pecked its way in the direction they wanted it to go. Then, Aviana made her next move. She rushed towards the fowl, and it ran a few feet before attempting to spread its wings and fly. Aviana hoped Dawn was close enough to jump and catch it before it got away.

---

she might have missed her packmate's silent approach were she not searching for just that; watching what she could of the dance playing out on the other side of the underbrush. she did not shift, limbs coiled beneath her, tail splayed flat out at her rear. the bird - a slight disappointment, seeing as a whole group could have yielded multiple kills - moved towards her, nervously, until the sudden movement of Aviana had it lunge desperately upward. 

she moved then, swiftly to meet the bird as it suddenly swerved, catching a wing in her maw and whipping her head down in one fluid motion. stunned, the bird cried out, the huntress dispatching it swiftly yet not quickly enough to have its scream have the whole wood go silent. there wouldn't be anymore hunting for them here, yet as grief returned to stab at her swiftly and suddenly, she merely nosed the catch toward Aviana. "you should have it. the group can't be far - we can come back and take down a few more."

In an impressive display, Dawn leaped at the bird and caught it by the wing, and then quickly ended the bird's life. Aviana's tail wagged as she trotted over, Great job! They had worked well together, and now had a meal to show for it. She almost declined Dawn's offer for her to have it, and under any other circumstances, Aviana would have done just that. But, her body was making and growing pups, and Aviana knew if they were to be healthy, she needed to eat well. Thank you, she said softly. 

She would defeather the bird quickly before sinking her teeth into it. She would offer some to Dawn, as well, hoping she'd take some, as she did work for it, too. When Aviana was finished, she sat up as she licked the blood from her maw. We can lay low in the area for a while if you want, and try again when they start to feel safe, she suggested. 

If Dawn would continue hunting, we could play it out, or fade out and say they spent the next few hours hunting, if you like

---

Aviana accepted the catch without fuss, Dawn refusing to touch it; offering something about having already eaten. she watched instead, waiting, until the woman produced their next plan of action. agreeing easily, the sterling woman followed Aviana to wherever she chose to wait; it made sense to make the most of the group now that they'd found their general whereabouts.