Hoshor Plains Quicker than falling asleep.

AW! Come say hello!

He hadn’t been back for long, yet there was still lots to be done. The plains proved a difficult place to hunt during these scarce months of winter, and his stature made larger deer difficult to tackle on his own. Emrik had taken to venturing the short distance to the small would just west of Kaistleoki’s territory. In the tangle of branches and bushes smaller prey such as hares and squirrels were taking refuge from he cold snow. He had just returned, a thin looking white rabbit dangling from his jaws.

This place was dumb. Boring. Stupid. At least lots of stuff happened back at the river. Here every day was just... Well, boring. @Speedy and @Syrma were okay and all -- really, they made it bearable, oh, and sure, Acheron was pretty arright too -- but like, where was the adventure? Where was the fun? Spica had been practising her hunting skills lately, but with the time they were born, their timing to learn how to function and hunt well was rather poor, and so she never got very far.

When she spotted another in the distance, Spica lowered her body a little. Her tail twitched with excitement as she startled to circle her new prey. They were a wolf so sure, she couldn't like, really kill 'em dead like if they were a rabbit, but she could practise anyway.

Thanks for dropping in!

He wasn’t sure what it was, the months spent as a lone wolf or his history as a scout that alerted his sixth sense to the potential danger. His steps hitched slightly, and his ears pinned forward. He slowly came to a halt and dropped the rabbit at his paws.

His dual colored gaze trailed his surroundings. He couldn’t find anything amiss; the surrounding area held no untoward scents as far as he could tell. But that itch at the back his neck continued, he was being followed. It was only a matter of time before he was confronted by whoever it was. Comfortable in the lack of an unknown scent, Emrik slowly lowered his jaw to pick up the hare and continue on his way.

When she saw that he stopped and put down the food, Spica immediately pressed herself to the ground and pretended to be like, a rock or something else Spica-coloured. A log, maybe? Something that didn't move, anyway. She watched with big eyes and rapid breathing as he looked around, looking for her. Her heart thudded in her throat as she waited to be not-discovered, and she was right -- he didn't see her, and with a feeling of success she watched as he lowered his head to pick up the hare again.

This was Spica's cue. Just as he started towards the hare to pick it up, she started dashing towards him through the snow behind him and with a ferocious Rawr! Spica pounced at him, fully intending to distract him by jumping on top of him, and then as he was distracted grab the hare and make off before he could get to her.

Just as he dipped his head, his ears picked up the sound of something approaching fast. Not completely startled, but rather relieved at the arrival of Spica, Emrik raised a brow at her antics. Giving a sharp laugh, as she ran off with his hard won catch of the day.
“Hey!” The man yelled after the juvenile, before taking off after her. “No you don’t.” He called, gaining on her.

It came partly as a surprise to Spica that her pounce should actually work. Usually somewhere halfway through the practicalities of her grand ideas something unexpected happened. This time, everything just seemed to click and her plan worked! Another part of her wasn't surprised at all, of course; she was pretty damn awesome, after all, and through her cunning planning she was now running off with the food between her teeth. Though the food as extra motivation, it was mostly the thought of succeeding that made her feel great -- because there hadn't been much to hunt or practise hunting on and when she tried she realised she was hopelessly behind, it felt extra great to just succeed! -- though when she glanced over her shoulder she realised the precarious situation she was in.

He was gaining on her, shit. And if this was some lush forest or there were some rivers with narrower pathways across she could totally ditch him, but when it came to the flats of this boring old place Spica didn't stand a chance. Shit, she muttered to herself as she tried to keep ahead, but realised with every passing second that she was going to be caught up to very soon.

She may have startled him with her sudden appearance, but he wouldn’t let it go that easy. A mischievous smile rested on his lips, wondering if she were actually hungry or just fooling around as young wolves liked to do. But given the circumstances surrounding them, the devastation and the famine, Emrik couldn’t be to sure. If she were hungry, he wouldn’t deny her anything. For he recognizes her not only as a packmate but also as Speedy’s daughter, from her scent he distinguished her as Spica. Although from a distance he doubted he’d be able to tell her and her twin sister apart.

Coming up behind her, he lightly nipped at her ankles and then at her side. If she didn’t stop, he might have to take more drastic measures. He gave a hearty laugh, hoping she might come to a stop upon realizing he wasn’t angry.

Spica just kept running running running, trying to outrun her pack mate and get away with the prize. It wasn't entirely about the food or even practising her hunting (or scavenging, rather, in this case). It was a matter of pride, this thing, and she wouldn't give it up so easily. Even when she could nearly feel his breath in her neck and he was nipping at her ankles and side, Spica just kept running. He laughed, and though Spica hadn't consciously realised that she was tense about anything it made her feel a bit calmer to know her pack mate was in good spirits despite being bested.

Yet even though it was clear that she was going to be overtaken and stopped Spica just kept running as fast as she could, determined to get away with this. Come on, Spic, she encouraged herself under her breath, and she tried to push on, even though it was very likely her pack mate would do something to take away her prize soon.

He couldn’t deny he was having fun, but he also had other stuff he had to do today. Hunkering down and finding his inner endurance, Emrik forced himself to pick up the pace. Coming alongside the youngster, and gave her a big hip bump to try and get her to lose her stride. Using a soft approach to get her to stop.

Shitshitshitshit he was catching up with her! Spica gritted her teeth and sped up as best she could but it just wasn't enough compared to Emrik's fully grown legs and all that. She didn't give up the whole time, keeping full speed, but it just wasn't enough.

The earth suddenly disappeared from underneath Spica's paws. She let out a yelp when the bump caught her completely by surprise and she tumbled to the side, sommersaulting through the snow and dirt -- causing her fur to be full of clumps of clotted snow and dirt -- and landing flat on her face with her snout in the snow. Somewhere in the middle of her sommersault her prize was finally pried from her jaws by the momentum and it flew up into the air a few meters, only to fall down a few wolves' lengths from Spica.

He may have bumped her a little harder than he had anticipated, and he watched with regret as Spica tumbled. Coming to a halt, he flinched as she finally stopped and once again as the rabbit fell to the earth some feet away. “Spica!” Emrik called running up to the girl. He didn’t much care for the rabbit as making sure Spica was alright.

“Damn, I’m sorry. Are you alright?” He reached his nose down giving her a little nudge, concern ablaze in his eye.

After her landing Spica was on the ground for a few seconds with a dizzy head as she heard Emrik call her name in the distance. He sounded super far away but when she looked up in the next instant he was right beside her and he sounded a lot closer. That was... Spica said and she hoisted herself to her feet. Spica shook her fur and then looked at Emrik with an excited look on her face, her fur disheveled, likely some bruises under her skin, but it was clear from everything that she thought it was: ... Awesome! How did it look? How many times did I flip over? The rabbit was momentarily forgotten by Spica herself, too, even though that'd been her main objective.

She was ok, offering a thankful smile and an amused huff. “It looked pretty cool kiddo. I’m glad you’re ok. Gosh two or three times at least.” Emrik took a few steps closer, appraising her wellbeing for himself.

He glance over at the rabbit. “Well, get your prize.” He flicked his head, he hadn’t caught the rabbit for himself. He had caught it for the pack, and Spica was part of the that pack.

Spica grinned proudly when Emrik praised her for her flipping over, not realising she could've gotten seriously hurt in any way. When he said that she got her prize, she looked at the rabbit that she'd totally forgotten about and then back to Emrik, wide-eyed. Really?? But she didn't waste much time and quickly trotted over to snatch it up. She threw it in the air and just before she caught it again said, Cool! This was turning out to be a pretty superb day.

should probably wrap this one up :P

She pranced over to the rabbit, happy with her prize. Emrik smiled on, and once again headed toward the heart of the territory. “Heading back?” She was getting to the age where she could come and go as she pleased, and Emrik didn’t want to crush her mood by ordering her in. Not that she would listen. But HE had been out all day, and wouldn’t mind a snooze.

yes! thanks for the thread! feel free to add another response or archive it as is :)

tags for reference <3

Spica threw the rabbit into the air and caught it again, feeling pretty content with herself. When Emrik asked her if she was headed back, she nodded, her mouth still full of the rabbit, and she started to head back towards the rendezvous site alongside him. She couldn't wait to show @Speedy and Acheron and @Syrma her catch! She would just wait 'til he branched off and then totally not mention Emrik at all when she showed them. Oh man, was Syrm gonna be jealous or what?! Spica had a big grin on her face as she walked back considering this, and when she returned to the family she happily bragged about the catch while she made sure that everyone in the family got a bite.

She might've been an arrogant little liar at times, but she did care bundles about her family and their wellbeing.