Dragoncrest Cliffs It's not the waking, it's the rising

East moved through the trees, his pace quick and efficient. He had woken before the sun and patrolled and marked the borders, so now as the afternoon approached, he wanted to explore the territory some more without the pressure of his duties. As he moved, the pleasant scent of rabbit filled his nostrils and he froze, looking around for any sign of the creature. He stood still for a few long moments, the sounds of the forest pulling his ears in different directions as he tried to pick out the just the right noise. Eventually, his head whipped around, and he stared at a spot in the distance between two of the forest's giants. There, moving slowly across the forest floor, was his lunch. He watched the rabbit take one or two hops here or there before stopping to sniff something with its busy little nose. Since he was downwind, he hadn't been noticed yet, and each time the rabbit moved, he took a few soft, careful steps towards his prey. 

Just before he was about to sprint towards the rabbit, a bird squawked above him, causing his prey to freeze and jerk his head to land his gaze right where East had been lying in wait. The rabbit took off, and his muscled tensed as he sprang from his spot to go after it. His prey weaved through the trees attempting to lose him, but East mirrored each movement as they raced through the forest. As the chase pursued, he pushed himself harder to go faster, his muscles protesting some, and as he was just starting to close some of the distance, the rabbit leaped over a fallen log. East easily cleared the log himself, but when he landed on the other side, his prey was gone. Panting, he blinked a few times and looked around, but the rabbit was just gone. Clearly, it knew knew the forest better than he did, and had known just where to escape. With a frustrated huff and one more glance around him, he began moving again, giving up on the rabbit and returning to his previous task.

Life seemed to have settled in the weeks since the disruption of their ranks. While he still missed Dalia and Bat especially, the latter of whom had vanished without a trace, young Dacio was beginning to learn that life would go on - no matter how disappointing it could be.

His training continued, supporting his strengthening desire to better learn how to fight. He sparred often with his sisters and sometimes followed Dio on patrols, and his growing need for independence pushed him from the safety of his mother's embrace. 

He trailed through Drageda's familiar woodland, weaving through the trees and dragging a large stick along with him. What he didn't expect was to find himself almost nose-to-nose with a terrified rabbit, who swerved to avoid him and disappeared into an underground burrow. Dacio jumped a little in surprise, hackles on edge as he rumbled past his mouthful of tree branch, though the sound of approaching paws drew his attention back to the direction the prey had come from.

An adult vaulted the fallen log and Dacio watched for a few quiet moments before he dropped his stick and yipped to attract the Kru's attention. "Hei," the sterling cub greeted in Drageda's native tongue, motioning with his muzzle toward the hollow that the older wolf's intended meal had vanished into. Dacio continued in their other language, as he was uncertain if this particular brute would understand: "it's gone down there!"

Thanks for joining! :)

The voice stopped his departure from the scene of his failed hunt, and he turned to see a a silver and black pup he had not met yet. He moved to the opening of the burrow that the boy had pointed out, sticking his muzzle inside to draw in a few deep breaths once he go there. He pulled his nose out and began to dig at the burrow where the rabbit's scent disappeared. He stopped digging when he decided it was probably not going to get him anywhere and turned to the pup. There's probably another opening around here somewhere, he stated, scanning the ground around them for any evidence. Want to help me find it? he asked, unsure how much hunting the cub had done but figuring it would be a good learning experience regardless.

It was in his eagerness to participate in what could be a potential hunt that prompted Dacio to draw the other's attention to the rabbit burrow. While he was inexperienced in the chase, his instinct to find prey was strong - he just didn't know how to. So as the adult's gaze found the hole in the ground, Dacio's bright eyes followed his movements with excited curiosity and tip-toed closer to brave a closer look.

The older wolf's digging proved fruitless, and Dacio tilted his charcoal ears backward in disappointment. They sprung forward again, however, as Eastwood turned to him with the suggestion that he assist in seeking another entrance to the underground tunnel. "Oh," he chirped, ivory-tipped tail twitching to life at his rear, "okay!"

Dacio waited for the Kru to take lead, or instruct him on which direction he wished him to search in.

East studied the area for a minute before turning back to the cub. You search that way, he instructed, lifting his head to the right. I'll look for the opening over here, he added, pointing his nose to the left. He knew there was bound to be another opening nearby and if they could find it, they could block it and wait for the rabbit to be forced to leave through the other entrance. If you find it, just call for me, he said with a dip of  his head before lowering his nose to the ground to begin sniffing round as he moved to his search area. 

He looked around for a few minutes, searching every rock or lift in tree root that he could find. He could smell rabbit everywhere, so it was hard to really follow it to one place. He saw a gathering of forest vegetation not far from where he was currently looking around, and he trotted quietly over there. He pushed his nose under the plant, huffing out a breath as he vigorously sniffed around. He found nothing, though, and he lifted his head in the direction he had asked the pup to go, wanting to see if he seemed to have found anything promising.

@Eastwood sorry for this horrible wait!

Dacio bobbed his head as the adult barked instruction his way, and swiftly began his search for another entrance to the rabbit burrow. Excitement coursed his veins and the boy's pale eyes scanned the path before him. Rabbit scent hung heavy in the air and on the earth so it was difficult for his inexperienced nose to pin-point one particular trail, but he was happy to search every nook and cranny.

Soon, he happened across fresh bunny shit and, momentarily distracted from his mission, paused to sniff at the pellets before gathering them into his mouth to consume them. Almost encouraged to look for more, Dacio shoved his curiosities aside and lifted his muzzle - catching a glimpse of an exposed hollow in the dirt.

Tail thrust out behind him, he loomed over the hole and emitted a soft boof to alert his pack-mate.

Ugh, same. Super sorry.

His ears twitched at the sound from his partner, and he quietly moved towards him. He noticed the den opening as he came to stand beside the boy. Lifting his muzzle a bit, he sniffed the air and found the fresh scent of rabbit. He silently motioned for his packmate to stay there while he moved stealthy around the area, nose to the ground as he searched. It wasn't long before a trail lead him to another opening nearby. 

He moved back to the young wolf and once close enough, he whispered, There's another opening over there, lifting his nose in that direction. I'm going to begin digging in it, and you stay here and wait. At least one of them should hopefully come out, and then you can go after it. He nodded once, and assuming the boy had no questions or issues with the plan, he moved back to the other hollow entrance. 

With as much force as he could muster, East began digging into the hole, clumps of dirt flinging behind him as he worked. he moved deeper and deeper into the opening, hoping it would be enough to drive one of the creatures into the path of his waiting partner.