Dawnlark Plains bron-y-aur stomp

I'm gonna go ahead and start the next round now. Those of you who haven't responded yet, still feel free to pop in in this round, since the actual hunting likely won't start until Round 3--which will begin April 3.

It wasn't as many wolves as he'd like to see, but Shale was pleased nonetheless at the turnout, especially since he wasn't one of the leaders or even leading subordinates, trailing behind his nephews--one by marriage, one by blood--in the ranks. But he was a hunter born, and he wanted to continue to prove to Grayday that he wasn't merely coasting by virtue of his name; he was a provider, a useful member of the pack.

Easy and Sunny both asked him and Day the same question, and Shale's mouth cracked in an amiable smile. "The old buck," he responded, not wanting to play guessing games with the young Morningsiders. "See how tired he is? He's near the end of his life." He saw Easy's eyes linger on the fat does, and added, "The pregnant mothers we'll leave alone. We need them to have their babies, so the herd can grow."

He looked over the group, quickly calculating a plan he thought could work. "Ok, so we'll need to get him away from the band," Shale said after a moment of silence, his tenor voice ringing through the crisp air. "Lavender and Sorrel, you'll come with me to help startle him away. We'll use our growls and our snapping jaws, keeping well away from his hooves and antlers." He figured this was best for the girls; Lav didn't get out much, and Sorrel, bless her, was timid. He thought they may balk at actually taking down the animal.

For that, his eyes swept over the burlier wolves assembled. "Sunny, Aditya, Easy," he said to them, with a curt nod. "Once we've cut him away, you'll be on the offense, taking him down. And Grayday," he added, with a deferential look toward his brother, "can choose whatever team he likes. Whichever you think needs you most."

It was a non-decision stemming from a couple reasons. He worried for Day, with his limited sight, and his littermate knew his own health better than Shale did. And he disliked the idea of giving the alpha male orders in front of his own pack; it was a calculated step back. He hoped Grayday wouldn't take offense at his waffling, but then, Grayday had always been reasonable with him.