Sunbeam Lair BWP3: PREY OPPORTUNITY

Packs may only participate in one prey opportunity at a time.
Characters may only post once per day.

Sunbeam Lair: Deep within the mountain range lies a cavern whose reach extend far beneath one of the more shallow ridges. Large and spacious, the cavern seems to support its very own ecosystem, certain types of plants and animal life thriving here. Some plant-forms here are hard to find elsewhere, making this location a healer's dream. In some places the ceiling became weak and caved in, allowing for the sun to shine through in the middle of the day and even the light of the moon on particularly clear nights.

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A large wild pig died of mysterious causes right in the center of the pack's territory. There is enough meat to feed an entire pack, yet there is a very good chance it is contaminated and will cause illness.

The time had arrived in which she'd gone out for her daily patrol of the territory, wandering through the cavern and taking mental notes on various things. It was during such that she'd happened upon the body, the allure of the meat on its bones having sent her stomach into a growling frenzy. She'd taken several steps towards it, sniffing the air around them and looking closer at the body. There were no obvious signs of the cause of death, only a motionless corpse with the promise of a fulfilling meal. Still, she was cautious, if only because the reason for the creature having died remained a mystery to her. Perhaps it had been starvation—yet, it's body certainly didn't match such a cause—or maybe an illness. Too bad for her, she had no way of determining the exact cause, for "wolf science" wasn't even close to being advanced enough for such a feat, nor had she any clue that any sciences had the resources necessary to do so.

After several moments of consideration, she'd howled for both @Noctura and @Jolon, having decided that several other opinions were needed. Even as her stomach urged her to take action, to tear into the flesh and feast upon the fallen porcine, she'd prevented herself from giving in to such persistent impulses. They would decide together, she and two of her most trusted members, and then figure things out from there.

Tagging everyone else, too, as it makes sense that they would have heard her. ^^ @Qamar @Squirrel @Avannon

Ooh this is an interesting one...

His heart was so in sync with the wishes and whereabouts of Asterr that it seemed almost as though his paws moved before she called for him. Large, dark paws they were, and moved swiftly, ears tall and alert as he felt himself quietly curious at what had been found. For the call had not been an ordinary one.

Noctura would have greeted Asterr in a more involved way had he not immediately set sight upon the deceased pig. The creature was large and fleshy, and he swallowed. Blinking down at his young Alpha, he spoke: can you smell that. For he wondered if it was his imagination. The pig did not smell entirely fresh.

Avannon stepped out of the foilage her eyes immediately looking at the carcass "oh. there are  pigs around here ?" she asked her eyes sparkling. She sniffed it hungrily but frowned "it smells...um...strange" she said not being able to place the word accurately. she sniffed a different spot and her frown deepened "it just smells a bit old...i dont smell anything off.." she said before she stepped back and waited for Noctura and Asterr to speak.

The coal black brute had been thinking and searching, searching for a sign of his lost lover. Never had he thought he might lose her again, but it had happened nonetheless. He sat down, defeated. He had lost the only one he was able to love. Tears started to form in his eyes when his sadness turned to anger. How could she do this to him?! She knew how much she had meant to him, knew how much he loved her. Why had she left him yet again to eat her dust?! He sobbed quietly, enraged by the loss of Ezimette.

But all that changed when the fire nation attacked he heard the howl of the dragoness. He opened his eyes, his tear stained face turning in the direction the howl had come from. He tipped his head in confusion, but got up soon and sprinted toward where she was.

Arriving there, seeing Noctura and Asterr, the wolves he had known for so long now, he kept quiet. He simply stared at the dead animal, he could barely recognize it as a wild pig, and then turned his gaze to his leader and her Gamma. He dearly hoped they couldn't see that he had been upset just moments ago, and would care to explain what was supposed to happen to the dead pig. something smelled... off...

Texi seemed to be one of the last to appear, cream fur dirty from patrolling. The howl had sounded faint from where she was but she had heard it nonetheless. Hope still glimmered in her that perhaps Bird would appear from the foliage as well but of course, her sister was still as gone.

Squirrel padded forward, sniffing at the pig's carcass worryingly. Something about it just didn't smell right but Texiceia didn't question it. Food was food and she would never be one to turn it aside. Instead the slender female stood off to the side and waited for the okay to eat.

The first to arrive had been Noctura, and she could have sworn that her heart had stopped the moment she'd seen him, for always was it pleasing to her when he was around. Yet, it was not the time to speak with him on an emotional level, but instead on a more professional level, for there was a task at hand in need of completion. There before them laid a carcass, the meat clearly ready to be devoured, but she could not allow for anyone to dive in just yet. No, it was far too risky, especially after her suspicions had been confirmed by the man's words. It had not been wrong of her to be cautious of the beast, for the scent it carried concerned others as well. "I do," she'd returned, gaze trailing off in his direction, only to be reined back in soon after. No, she could not let her attention slip over to him entirely, for that could potentially put the entire tribe at risk. Luckily, another body had made an appearance, allowing for her concentration to be better maintained.

Towards the female's query, the dragoness shook her head. "Pigs have not been know to enter our home," she'd informed her. "I do wonder what lured this one here, as well as what may have contributed to its death..." She was stumped, in all honesty, for there existed no signs of an attack. There didn't seem to be any bleeding wounds, just an intact corpse. It was unsettling, to say the least. As she'd considered their options, the words spoken, and the possibilities, Jolon had arrived. He had not said anything, which resulted in her looking to him with a hint of worry in her features. Was all well with him? Asterr had not taken the time to ask, deciding that she might speak to him later on. For the time being, however, she'd glanced around at those that had gathered, coming to a conclusion on how they would proceed.

"This meal, though clearly plentiful, is suspicious," she began. "I do not trust it, despite the hunger that we face. However, I will not prevent any of you from eating it if that is what you desire. I will simply say that I will continue with the fish and other small prey, rather than take a chance with the beast." It was hard to turn down a meal, it truly was, but she'd managed to reason with herself. If someone had poisoned it, then she would end up dying and her home would fall to ruins. The safer bet was, obviously, to stick with the food sources that they were all familiar with, the ones that they knew would not cause them a great deal of distress. Thus, Asterr had stepped away from the carcass, observing, then, to see who all might take a chance with it.

Shortly a handful of other packwolves arrived, attracted either by the scent or Asterr's call — or perhaps both. Avannon, Jolon and Texiceia each appeared with the same balance of hunger and mistrust, but not one of them lurched forward to eat. All his attention was on Asterr as she guided them with her thoughts on the matter, though of course she didn't command them either way.

The large Gamma joined Texi in taking a closer look at the dead pig, but this time he didn't sniff at it: his silver eyes glanced here and there for some sign of how it had died. He tipped its head gently to inspect its neck. I can't see any fang marks, he observed to the others, his deep voice composed but pensive, and it has flesh enough to suggest it didn't necessarily die from starvation. Noctura was no medical mind, but he had been a lone wolf for a long time: he had learnt to inspect his prey.

But, like Asterr, he left the others to draw their own conclusions from this. He couldn't be certain anyway. Maybe it had died from starvation or the hunt — the point was that they just didn't know. The stars were not out, the stargazer took no risks.

Avannon's eyes widened with an idea "it...humans? humans do this. this was how they hunted near my homeland. they would ...bait the predators with fat, tasty prey and posion them" she said her voice breathless with fear. she backed away from te dead pig, knowing it was foolsih to be afraid of something that could not harm her if she didnt not touch it. However she was close to dropping to the ground in fear submission, her memories and instincts asking her to run, but her mind telling her to stay there.

Texi listened as Asterr spoke, glad that she didn't seem to be imagining things. The others didn't seem to want the pig either and for that Squirrel was relieved. Though Avannon's reaction concerned her, she didn't know what humans were but Ava seemed downright terrified.

Texiceia considered the newest member a friend and moved to nudge her shoulder in comfort. "It can't hurt you Avannon. It's dead." Squirrel murmured to her quietly. Glancing up a bit shyly to the others, she voiced her opinion. "I don't know how it died either, but I too will abstain from eating it." 

With that, Squirrel stepped back in wait for permission to leave. It was a hard decision given the painful hunger in her stomach, demanding she partake, but she didn't trust its scent.

Avannon relaxed slightly at the conforting nudge from texi andtook a  few deep breaths. "it could've traveled here from somewhere else...when my..old family used to eat the posioned prey the posion would slowly kill them. I do not want it at all." she said and stepped further back. "though the idea of human beings frightens me, i dont think they will come this way, they are highly intelligent maybe the pig escaped only to die" she said her voice now calm though her eyes were still looking at the pig with distain.


//sorry i messed up the post order, just ignore this or i'll delete it.

You're fine, Chey! ^^ There's no posting order for these Prey Opp. threads

Asterr had stood back and watched as everyone drew their own conclusions, deciding for themselves if they'd take a chance in order to fill their stomachs. Though she'd waited, however, none seemed to step forward. Not a single bite was taken from the fallen beast, the unknown cause of death seemingly having come off as being far too concerning. She was glad for their actions, or rather, the lack thereof. Though the greenery was returning, it was not yet full enough for her to feel comfortable with harvesting any herbs, which would have left her unable to treat any of them had they chosen to eat. For now, their lives were spared, but they'd not walk away from the scene with clear minds. For after she'd fallen silent, and other words had been stated, Avannon's voice seemed to pierce through the quiet air. Speaking of humans and poison, things she wasn't the least bit pleased by.

The possibilities had sent the female into what Asterr could describe only as being a state of panic, which was—luckily—quelled by another only shortly after. In regards to the matter, the yearling had frowned. "Neither humans nor their poisons can reach us here," she'd voiced, the words exiting from her mouth rather smoothly. Never had she experienced humans herself, but she'd heard of them several times before and was well aware of the threats that they posed. They were not creatures she'd ever wished to encounter, and so was mildly curious as to whether or not they truly had been the cause behind the pig's death... no, she would not allow for herself to believe it, for surely it was impossible. "We will stay away from this area until the birds have picked the corpse clean, assuming that they are so unwise as to test the meat." There had been spoken her final words on the matter.

Asterr gave each wolf the chance to choose her or his own thinking on the matter, though none touched the meat. Perhaps it was through logic, fear, squeamishness, or simply because they had sensed the Chieftess' own distrust of the meat and so followed her lead.

He nodded at the bright-minded girl's idea regarding the birds, though the concept of leaving the meat here to linger and fester brought something else to mind. Asterr, I suggest we redouble our patrols of the borders for a while, he said in his deep, calm voice. The scent of meat may attract starving lone wolves. Even cougars if they haven't moved on.

Slapping an ending onto this.

From Noctura there had come a suggestion, to which she'd given her approval. It was a wise idea, and one that she'd appreciated having been offered. No trespassers would be permitted upon their land, whether they be of the canine variety or something else entirely. It was only after the chieftess had informed everyone of what they were to do that she'd dismissed them all, the fallen pig being left to decay.