Bramblepoint BWP3: PREY OPPORTUNITY

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

Bramblepoint: A forest filled with rich alders, cottonwoods, apple, and cherry trees, this orchard is something of a snacker’s dream. From the fruit filled trees to the numerous blackberry, raspberry, strawberry and blueberry bushes, there are plenty of things to scavenge during the appropriate seasons. For as vast and delicious as this forest might be, it can be quite difficult to travel. The berry bushes are known for their thorns and brambles that can make navigating this wood something of a dangerous experience.

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Two skinny black bears have engaged in a death match over the scraps of a fawn. There's barely anything left of the original kill—but now one of the bears is dead and the other feeds on its enemy's corpse. It is injured, though not critically, and hunches dangerously over its quickly-disappearing kill.

Brandy, though not much of a wanderer, is emboldened by her recent trip with Sebastian on her look for prey. Crossing the borders and loping off North was easy, of course, and the copper female was excited to scent blood. The yearling galloped forward and into the bramblewood, but was thankfully smart enough to scent before charging into the area. Slowing down became a need, since the undergrowth was just too much to be running through.
Bear scent was thick, fresh, and instead of heading out for any of her pack members, she only let loose a howl for them and kept behind a tree as she spied on the scene. Her lemon eyes stayed locked onto the bear, ready to react should it run for her before her family could come to help. Hopefully nobody else showed up first, but how likely was that?

@Sebastian @Pearl @Aduin @Horosk @Val @Kareja @Embry @Stitch up for a hunt? :D

Valtyr had made numerous trips through the Bramblepoint during the famine, albeit stealthily. Three packs were stationed on either side of the thorny woof, and the Southerner wasn't interested in getting caught in his neighbor's hunting grounds. He had never met wolves from the other packs, and intended to keep waves to a minimum. However, as prey became more and more scarce around the Fen, Valtyr was forced to travel farther and farther on a never ending search -- one time ending North as Deepwood Weald. Bramblepoint was a nice shaded passage... but, on this day, he hadn't anticipated finding one bear feasting off another's carcass.

The pungent scent of blood and bear was heavy in the air and it has masked Brandy's perfume as Valtyr crept towards the scene. Every fiber of sinew was taught in his body. The ursine predators were fearsome... even moreso in such desperate times. Yet, hunger gnawed at the young man's being and goaded him forwards. Penny copper eyes were ablaze as his ears picked, on alert. Before the bears came into sight a howl rang out. Brandy? Valtyr's pace picked up as he came to her side. She must have been out hunting, too.

His shoulder brushed Brandy's as he halts, peering beyond the trees to see a wasted black bear being rapidly consumed by its kin. Saliva pooled into the Sveijarn's mouth as he watched and thinks. They needed more muscle to chase off the bear or, better yet, kill it -- but a starving beast was sure to be ferocious, and Valtyr knew he was weak with hunger. And what of the other packs? Valtyr's gaze darted around nervously for signs of other canines. The two Fen wolves were in a bad position, but they couldn't afford to miss such an opportunity. He hoped the rest of the pack would soon arrive so that they may claim this bounty for Broken Antler Fen.

@Zaria, @Steady, @Mason, @Krypton, @Phocion! Anyone who wants to join me and try and get the kill!

Ezekiel's little hunting excursion had taken him to the west and now down south of the mountain. He was starting to get hungrier day by day, and he found himself wondering if coming to Teekon was worth it after all. Surely it was, but at this point the boy would eat anything with meat on its bones. As he trotted along through a thick, yet dying forest, he noticed a clashing amount of scents up ahead. Wolf, bear, and deer. Could he be lucky or should he stay away. No, he felt confident and desperate enough to head in for the kill.

When he found the clearing, he noticed two obstacles in his way. One being a weakened bear who with the help of some pack mates, could be taken down. The other more worrying was a small female wolf, from a pack by the scent of her. She had already let loose a howl for her pack, so who knew how many wolves would soon be upon him. He let loose his own howl, calling for backup. He stood his ground next to the girl, trying to seem dominant over her. With luck she'd turn and leave but that was unlikely. He wanted to avoid contact with the bear until reinforcements arrived, if they did at all.

Another wolf arrived, from the young girl's pack. Zeke was now outnumbered. The other Silvertip wolves would have to arrive quick or else he'd have to retreat.

Kareja scrambled to her feet before flying across the land to reach the call, how could the girl pass up a chance for food? Her tiny white paws thumped the ground so quickly she appeared to be flying, moving so fast she nearly fell down a slope as she finally reached the clearing.

Val and Brandy were already there, seeming to be in a stare down with an unfamiliar wolf from another pack. Kareja trotted to their sides, offering another number to their ranks. Three to one, the bear should be theirs.

A weakened bear would be no match for a pack of hungry wolves, strengthened by their will to eat. Hopefully Broken Antler Fen wouldn't have to fight too hard for the bear carcass, as long as no other rival pack members showed up.

Steady heard the call and immediately responded, dropping his own failed attempts at hunting and running towards where their newest member had called. 

He approached, apprehensive of the others, but not aggressive. He moved to Ezekiel's side and looked upon the scene. One bear dead, another injured and feeding upon the first, and one discarded carcass. The two Silvertip Mountain wolves were outnumbered, but Steady hoped more would arrive. 

They were desperate for meat. So much so, that Steady actually spoke up to the opposing pack. If both our packs work together, we're more likely to take this bear down, and that will mean two carcasses instead of one, and plenty of meat. He knew it was a long shot, but it was the only win-win situation he could think of. They could not afford to get into a fight with another pack, but he was not going to back down if they refused to work together.

Embry's ears perked at the sudden howl. My first opportunity in Broken Antler Fen. He thought, jumping to all four paws with vigor. I wonder what's going on. The golden-blonde male swiftly wove his way through the sparse undergrowth, his tail swaying anxiously from side to side. The path ahead was steep and dense in comparison, thick with dying vegetation. Embry was no botanist, but it was clear that the effects of the locusts didn't just pertain to the animals of the Teekon Wilds. 

     Though he was quite sympathetic towards the dying organisms, it soon became evident that many of the plants were still quite strong. Bramblebushes, for example, were everywhere, threatening to trim his thick fur with razor-like precision. Embry's agile body, to his relief, carried him smoothly down the gentle incline. Parting his jaws, he scented the air for any trace of his packmates. Within seconds, he spotted the dark brown collection of wolves from Broken Antler Fen. He padded subconciously their way, following their gazes as he cautiously proceeded down the slope. 

     As soon as he was within earshot of his packmates, he spotted the massive bear only a few yards away. It was hard to keep his mouth from watering as he spotted the tasty prey the ursine brandished. Wow. I never thought I'd see prey that big again. He thought with slight amusement. The sensation faded all too soon as he spotted the other wolves that approached. He felt rather proud, though, to see that he was among the larger group of assembled wolves. That prey is ours. Lifting his chin, Embry set his jaw defiantly and took up his position beside Kareja. He dipped his head in greeting, his eyes never leaving the scene before him. He had joined this pack not only for survival, but to assist others in this mission as well. Patiently, Embry awaited instruction from his packmates. He found that in circumstances such as these, being the first wolf to strike wasn't always the tactical way to go. When in a group, organization and dominance through numbers was an important factor in situations such as these.

Pearl got to her feet, though weakly, and was empowered by the sound of a hunt. She was acustomed to different tones of howls by now, and this one meant possible food. Letting the black spots fade from her vision, she was quick to arrive at the scene through the barren brambles. The thorns had stubbornly remained, it seemed, to claw at her fur as she (somewhat) gracefully made her way down. 

Shaking her fur out, she went to stand beside her packmates before realizing, hey wait, I'm the alpha here with the hunting trade." Pearl was fast to regain her dominance as she corrected her posture and tail and paced to the front. There were only two males that challenged her pack's meal, and they were part of a pack. The scent of blood was already affecting her.

The dark one wanted a comprimise, and while that all sounded good and dandy, they were probably the bigger pack with the greater need. Most likely. "How many in your pack? Any young? We could be swayed to give you what you need, as all need to survive this hard time, and it would be largely counter-intuitive to kill everyone now. A lot of energy gone to waste and unecessary injuries. A pity, really." she said, speaking truth and willing to give them at least what they needed to survive. Her packmates may feel different, but it was her turn to be the Alpha-bitch. Plus, she was hungry. Ain't no one gonna mess with her.

Ezekiel's howl from the south interrupted his other engagements. Had it been a howl from any other pack, he would have moved on, but Phocion was hell-bent on answering the call of a Silvertip wolf. The cry was mixed with a certain urgency--Ezekiel needed assistance, and now. Phocion took off running, a white blur across the flatlands, skirting the forest of their rival pack.

When he arrived in the thick, tangled forest from which the call had sounded, he picked his way through the vegetation, following the scents that hit his nose. It was an. . .interesting mix, for sure. Wolves, definitely. Fresh meat. Something else, too, acrid and pungent. . .bear? Sure enough, as Phocion caught sight of wolves, he also caught sight of a big black beast, savagely ripping entrails from what appeared to be a vanquished opponent. Another bear.

Ezekiel was here, as was Steady. They were talking with wolves from another pack, and were outnumbered five to three. His ears picked up bits and pieces of the conversation as he approached--Steady was inviting the others to work with them to take this bear down, as the meat gained from such a venture would be more food than they had seen in days. A female from the other group, who carried herself like an alpha, shot back with a query of their strength and size. Perhaps, Phocion thought, a compromise can be reached here. And food for us all. . .

Phocion padded up to stand next to Steady and Ezekiel, giving them each a stiff nod of greeting. He stood wordlessly, keeping his mouth shut, giving the leaders the opportunity to talk it out. While he listened, he sized up the black brute, whose teeth and muzzle were smeared with fresh blood. Even thin with hunger and wounded from his fight, he still was a formidable opponent for any wolf, especially for Phocion and his small stature. But if the wolves grouped together, they might be able to overwhelm the creature, whether that meant taking him by force or chasing him off and running him down until he tired and collapsed.

Food. Phocion's stomach gurgled. He waited with bated breath for a command from his superiors.

Aduin heard the howl, and right away he headed toward the location it came from. He knew it to be Bran's howl, and he thought best to answer to it personally. Luckily he did, cause she had found something of interest. Being last to arrive, he silently greeted Pearl, Val and two others he had yet to learn the names of then creeping to Brandy's side, fearful of what they set their eyes on. A bear, feasting on another bear. He felt nervous just seeing it there.

Then he caught sight of wolves from another pack. He gulped, knowing very well what could happen. But then he listened to everything being said, thinking about the compromise they spoke of. But eyes were on the prize. He thought it best if they shared. The larger their numbers, the larger the probability of taking it down, or at least chasing it off. 

Still, hungry minds often affected actions of many. And they had hungry stomachs that beckoned for the food. Aduin kept close to Bran, trying his best to straighten up beside her, trying to seem more confident while his gaze flicked from the other pack to the otherwise occupied bear. He was ready for the command to be given.

Brandy straightened out, lip twitching in hints of a snarl and tail rising as the strange male came up beside her, though the packmates streaming in behind her was refreshing. Another male joined the one she'd since turned away from, and another, but Pearl was soon pushing her way to the front and the copper girl was happy to let her lead and focus once more on the bear. The sound of an agreement rang through Brandy's ears, and she found herself nodding ever so slightly with Pearl though she didn't really look that way. There was no reason they couldn't work together to survive, especially when there was more than enough meat. So Brandy gave a nudge to Aduin, late to the party, licking his shoulder but already in hunter mode. Her lips pulled back in a silent snarl and didn't bother to wait for someone else to go first. She began to circle around and, with a glance at Pearl, hoped she was okay to keep circling. Should she be allowed, the back of the bears neck would be her first target.

Valtyr's attention deviated from the bear as a stranger approached. Instinctively, the Theta stiffened, slate-colored hackles rising in a ridge along his spine defensively. When the larger, silver male assumed an assertive posture, Valtyr's lips drew back to reveal his fangs, maw puckered in an aggressive grimace. He drew nearer to Brandy, hoping to force the Silvertip wolf to retreat. However, he was uncomfortable in this tense situation and not as bold as his ruddy counterpart. Feeding the Broken Antler pack was the goal -- but if it came down to a fight, would Valtyr have the grit to partake?

More wolves quickly arrived and it was clear their adversaries were outnumbered three to five. Pearl, their alpha, stepped forward to strike a deal. Valtyr was happy to let her parlay -- the unity spurred by having a leader relieved the nervousness he felt, so the Sveijarn was quick to regroup and source more confidence in the knowledge his brethren had his back. It seemed neither party wanted to fight, though he wondered if the option of chasing the Silvertip wolves away tickled the back of Pearl's mind. He would prefer to avoid a scrap -- the bears were enough of a challenge.

Before Pearl's word was given, Brandy began to circle the bears. There wasn't much time to waste -- however, as the lowest ranking wolf, Valtyr could not bring himself to move before his leader initiated action. He took a step to stand more closely between Aduin and Embry with a tall posture and shrewd bronze gaze, leering at the dark beta skeptically.

Embry faced the beta male that had approached, his muscles tensing apprahensively. We don't need this right now, he thought sourly. This wolf was pushing his luck. Nevertheless, Embry held his position with disdain, lifting his head with confidence. Pearl had given no order, yet the sight of Brandy circling the large predator was quite tempting. I'm in no position to disobey my superiors, he decided with disappointment. 

     Still, if this predicament provoked a battle, he would proceed to defend the kill with brio. He deeply longed to join Brandy -  to help in urging the hunt.

Ezekiel was glad when the beta and another of his brothers joined him. They were still outnumbered, but he felt better about their chances now. Of course those better chances still ran a pretty thin line. More and more wolves filed in from the other pack, and a snowy white female stepped to the front of the rival group. Zeke stepped back as his beta moved forwards to speak, the black wolf talked of diplomacy, of helping this other pack and then sharing the prize. Zeke hated this idea. If it was him, he would've already pissed off the alpha female and started a fight. Lucky for him, he wasn't alpha. His lip quivered into a faint snarl as the russet girl began to circle the bear. That should be him, he and his new pack mates should have the kill.

However he put his trust in Steady and stayed back with Phocion, muscles rippling with tension. While he wanted the prey so badly, a fight wasn't the answer and he knew it past his testosterone drive. He scanned the other crew, icy gaze flitting around from wolf to wolf.

Pearl arrived, providing a sense of relief that they wouldn't have to possibly face off any rivals without one of their Alphas on hand. The other pack was outnumbered but the male who offered an alliance of sorts made a good point. Two packs against a bear would likely be more able to take it down than one but that also meant splitting the food between two packs rather than just their own members.

Kareja in the end agreed with Pearl's reasonaning, albeit silently. Sapphire eyes kept dancing to the injured bear who was still feeding on his fallen comrad, the small woman was itching to join Brandy but waited in case the others decided to attack. 

Seeing the other male bare his teeth slightly, eyes following Brandy's every move, Kareja moved forward to stand in his line of sight. She glared at him, shy nature replaced by a hardened gaze that dared him to make one move towards her packmate.

Phocion arrived, and Steady returned his greeting with a nod before turning his attention to an Alpha who had spoken up. He was glad to see she was considering his offer. We have seven adults, and four pups, just two months old. I would be very appreciative, in your debt even, if you allowed us to hunt with you, he said genuinely. 

He glanced to his pack mates, noting the faint snarl that Ezekiel gave. No aggression, he said firmly. They were outnumbered, and it would be foolish to start a fight they knew they couldn't win.

Edit because I can't count >_<

The talks of neutrality and of alliance continued between Steady and the white alpha female from the other pack. Beside him, Ezekiel snarled slightly, and he saw a few of their rivals stiffen in response, gaze hardened as they stared at the Silvertip wolves. Phocion flicked an ear at Steady's rebuke to his packmate. The beta was right. One wrong move here could lead to chaos.

If it indeed came to pass that Silvertip would work with these strangers to bring down the wounded bear, it would be Phocion's first major challenge since arriving in the Teekon Wilds. He looked the creature over, watching it devour the dead bear with single-minded hunger. It would not be a good day for Phocion if this brute tore his face off in the process of taking him down. He was small and thin; he would go for the sturdy legs, trying to topple the bear, while bigger wolves would likely go for the throat and, hence, the kill. He would help in whatever way possible.

"I will follow your command when you give it," he told Steady, eyes locked on their potential adversary. He was impressed by the steel in his voice. For a wolf that had marched to the beat of his own drum his entire life, he was getting pretty good at falling in line.

Aduin's mind blocked off the rest of the conversation as he felt a warmth leave his side. Turning his head, he saw Bran leaving. He hesitantly took a step after her, but then withdrew. "Brandy. What are you doing?" he whispered after her, tail stiffening low as if he was expecting something to happen. Since his eyes were only on her, he could only see her going ahead. For all he knew, she was going alone.

He turned to Pearl to see if she noticed, wanting someone to go after her. To make sure she was safe. For some reason, he didn't go. He was too afraid to go alone, despite Brandy going already. That's when he heard the numbers the black male of the other pack spoke of. Surely they would give them some, for they had no young yet the other pack did. He continued to look at Pearl, waiting for the go so he could help Brandy.

Pearl glanced as one of her own began to circle the target, which would have been alright under normal circumstances. With the tensions running high between certain members, she quietly signaled Brandy to wait. The pale alpha nodded at the one who appeared to be in charge. "I will agree to let you hunt with us and share the meat. We all need it. The terms will be discussed further after the bear is dead." 

The bear was still caught up in the blissful moment, and had yet to even acknowlage their presence. She gestured for the more prominant hunters from both packs to get ready at the forefront. (Brandy, Ezekiel, Kareja, and Steady) "Brandy, snarly guy, you go for the neck. Clamp on, avoid claws. Kareja, dark nice guy, and I will get the sides. Everyone else, get busy biting or get busy dying." A+ strategy.

She thought it pretty obvious to avoid the claws, but she hoped they'd try and stay to the back while they took turns at the sides and front. She nodded, signaling for the pair to start them off. Then another to let her group know to go. Pearl shot off with all the focused energy of a hunter, a target selected on its thin but meaty side.

Steady visibly relaxed when the Alpha agreed to his deal. Thank you, he said, his tail wagging, before he turned to Ezekiel and Phocion. Do as she says. Work as a team with them, he instructed. Phocion seemed pleased enough to go along, for which Steady was grateful, but he didn't get the same feeling from Ezekiel. If they were to eat today, they had to put aside their differences and work with the other pack. There was no room for error, and pride could not get in the way here. If either of them failed to do their best, they would get it from Steady later.

Thankfully, the bear had been preoccupied with its own meal to notice the group of wolves. But, now, they were going to interrupt, and Steady knew he would not be happy about it. The group made their move, and Steady made his own, going for the opposite side as the Alpha female. He sunk his teeth in, releasing quickly as the bear fought back.

Luckily the two packs seemed to come of an agreement, and Zeke would have to deal with it. Steady was a good diplomat, something that Zeke would like to learn from him. His whole life, settling agreements was more like, 'gimme the bear or I'll bite you'. This democracy philosophy was new, but he kind of liked it. The other pack's alpha barked an order at him, and Zeke hesitated. The stark grey male especially didn't appreciate being referred to as snarly guy, but they'd come to a truce and it was too late for a fight. He waited until Steady agreed with her to follow. He nodded and shot a glance at Brandy, the female who was already circling the bear. He gave her a quick and forced respectful nod before joining her in circling the large carnivore.

He sized up the animal jowls held back in a full on snarl. He totally was snarly guy, he just wouldn't admit it. He waited for the others to take their places before leaping for the Bears furry neck, sinking his pearly whites into its flesh.

The white-furred female gave the green light, and Steady looked at both he and Ezekiel, telling them to cooperate. Phocion nodded firmly and prepared to charge, head lowered stubbornly. The other alpha had told his compatriots to go for the neck and sides, so he stuck to his original plan of trying to topple the bear from underneath.

Muscles bunched in anticipation, Phocion leapt into the fray, aiming dead on for the bear's left hind leg. He pounced upwards and grasped onto a meaty thigh with his teeth, clinging there like the proverbial thorn in one's side and pulling backwards with all his might. He vaguely worried about those dangerous forepaws, but the bear seemed more concerned with Ezekiel, who was locked onto the creature's throat.

Embry watched the five wolves begin the attack, peeling his lips back in a deep, resonant snarl. His tail swayed ominously behind him, brushing against the damp earth below. Obediantly, he circled the ring of wolves, looking for strategic exits and entrances along the battle field. His sea-green gaze swept across the scene with keen reserve, a rare sight from the youth. Adrenaline pumped throughout his body, urging him to jump in. C'mon, I just don't want to be in anybody's way.

     Finally, he spotted a small nook just wide enough for him to get a nice shot at the ursine. He was pleased to find that it was close to Kareja, though he respected her rank and did not wish to imply that he was there for assistance. He knew she was well prepared to take care of herself. Instead, he wove his way through the flurry of teeth and claws until he was in a small gap ignored by the other wolves. He took note of the bear's focus (which was mainly Pearl, Ezekial, Kareja, and Steady) and leapt forward. He sunk his claws into the large animal's flesh. Mud clung to his blonde fur, dripping off his flanks like water. The skirmish was organized chaos - the kind he preferred. His hind legs strained to keep him upright, etching deep into the sodden earth as he released his claws and retreated in preparation for round two.

The copper female all of ignored everyone else and their stares and reactions, keeping her lemon eyes on Pearl. Though she wanted to just go after it, she did indeed wait with her focus still on her alpha. She didn't move forwards anymore, but didn't come back either.  
Brandy sniffled to hide laughter when "snarly guy" obviously forced himself to show anything but aggression, but gave a return nod back accompanied with a small smile. For the moment being, they were allies. It wasn't long before she was again moving for the bear, albeit much faster than before. She had her orders now, and fully intended on carrying them out. Pearl gave her the neck to go after, and though she imagined Aduin's cringe, the yearling couldn't be happier: she didn't glance back at her mate before throwing herself at the bear full force, hoping to get its leg under her instead of able to grab at her, but was more aimed for latching onto its thick neck. The other guy already had its throat, but there was always more damage to be done in the neck.
She hit her mark, digging claws into the black pelted shoulder to stabilize herself. Unfortunately, the bears swinging claws did slice open her flank: nothing life-threatening, but damn did it hurt. Brandy did her best to get out of the way, but was wholly unwilling to let go of the bear just yet. Hopefully it would get distracted, or even better just die, before doing any more damage to anyone.

Aduin watched as the others approached the bear. He was just too nervous to move forward, but as Brandy went in for the attack, he felt the need to move. And he did, snarling at the bear, as soon as she took a hit on her flank. Following Pearl's orders, he got to biting where he could around it's back legs, quickly circling back every time just in case it tried to land a hit on him. Trying his best to help the others to bring down the bear. Nothing hurt her. Not while he was around.