Stavanger Bay Food For Thought

Amalia had been traveling with Natigvik for a few days. Enjoyed it immensely. The wolves amongst her new found family were very kind. She hadn't managed to speak with all of them at length, but so far she enjoyed the few conversations she had. She also knew they were hungry and it was with that thought in mind that she traveled a bit of the way from them.

She was only one wolf, but she had quickly become adept at hunting small rabbits, squirrels and the like when she was a loner and she would do so now. She had first paid a visit to the ocean, finally touched the beach with her own paws. She had been surprised at the gritty feel of it, it hadn't been her favorite. Now she was in search of game, and she couldn't stop the small sigh of relief as sand met grass and she was back amongst the land she was used too.



 

@Sakhmet @Kigipigak @Cerne only if you feel like it and have the time. Otherwise all welcome to hunt.

The family had made it as far as the coast. It was no small feat. Kigipigak was proud of his sons for making the journey and pleased it was going so well, even if it was taking a lot longer than if he traveled solo. He wanted to witness Akkuma's first steps in sand, or the sight of Kivaluk witnessing the sea against the earth for the first time.

Other duties came first. The man followed a branching scent trail away from the cluster of his family and down to the beach, where he found Amalia. He boofed to alert her of his arrival and carried on, sweeping close to where she prowled.

They were not alone. Kigipigak had found signs of other wolves as well as prey, and so he was more on-guard than before. If they were to hunt here they had best be careful.

Amalia heard his woof and tilted her head. She dipped her nose and wagged her tail and then sniffed at the ground again. I smelled others, but very stale. I tried to stay away from the scent markers though.

She looked around unsure. We can go elsewhere if you prefer, but this is the only stretch of grassland I have seen so far, and it smells abundant with small game. A few rabbits for food.

Amalia had done her best to stay away from the scent trails and markers. Though they did smell stale, that didn't mean that the wolves were gone, it may have just meant little in number or not near the borders.  She looked to her leader and she hoped friend and waited. If he wished to go elsewhere she was fine with that.

They stood upon claimed lands, despite the scents of borders going stale. Cerne felt apprehensive as he picked up his pace to bring himself to Amalia and Kigipigak. He caught the tail end of the woman's words, and he cleared his throat quietly as he murmured, "Hunting on claimed land... It does not bode well for us, Kigipigak." Cerne knew the man did not believe as he believed, but the soothsayer could not, and would not, ignore the sense of foreboding that was quickly rising within him.

Amalia spoke of rabbits. Soon they were joined by a reluctant Cerne who voiced opposition to the plan, and Kigipigak regarded both of them equally.

There are signs of others having been here, but we have not been intercepted. If this were his land he would be watching for visitors, so they likely did the same. Perhaps whoever lived here lacked the numbers to confront them.

We have children to feed. These people will not miss a few rabbits. Although Kigipigak was watching for signs of these wolves, he had made his decision. With the three of them together upon the beach they would be quick about it.

He looked to Amalia and gave a nod, indicating that she would lead this hunt as she had scouted the prey in the first place.

mobile lets see how i do.

Amalia felt a small sense of unease at Cerne's words. And she would have been fine with finding elsewhere, wouldn't have argued. There were scents here. However stale. 

Kigipigak spoke and she moved into position.

I'll flush them out. She dipped her muzzle to Cerne and Kigipigak and with careful movements belly lower, legs ready. With a soft breath she followed a scent trail further into the underbrush.

Mouth watered at the scent of prey and with a small yip she began the chase, herding the fast creatures towards her packmates.

Kigipigak's words were true — they hadn't been intercepted yet. Even so, Cerne's unease stayed with him. He knew the youth needed meat, but surely they could find rabbits and hares elsewhere? But, the word was given, and Amalia slipped from sight. Cerne loose a low sigh, flexing his toes into the dirt. He would not argue, nor abstain — even just one hare pelt would double the size of his hareskin pouch, and he had been meaning to expand his toolkit.

He laid in wait, and pretty soon Amalia had flushed the hares out; he trapped one in his jaws, shaking the life from it, before dropping it and rushing after a second.

Everything went smoothly, as was expected with three healthy wolves picking apart a warren of rabbits; Kigipigak was thrilled by the hunt as always, and more importantly he was thankful. Thankful for the help of these wolves who were of no blood relation to him or his true kin, yet stayed to travel and to hunt.

Cerne took out at least one rabbit himself, thrashing it to death. Kigipigak chased a pair that split apart, and caught up with the smaller of the two. That would have been enough for the boys — but then he thought of Sakhmet and how long it had been since the husband and wife had shared a hot meal.

This was a vastly different experience from the toil of solo hunting, and he was immensely grateful.

Despite that she had been flushing them out. Amalia managed to dispatch one who had a wounded footpaw. She rushed forward teeth sinking into it's neck. One thrash and it hung motionless. She carried her prize to add to the pile. There were at least two more left.

Once she had deposited the lame one. She spoke softly. I'll do one more sweep, and see if more come out

She bent low and with deep even breathing she pushed into the underbrush. A growl resounding as one more fat rabbit leapt from beneath. She hot on it's heels.

Cerne had caught his second hare, and he put them in the pile they now had; they were, if nothing else, efficient. As Amalia flushed the last out into the open, he called out, "I'll be wanting at least the two pelts from the ones I caught, more if no one else plans to use them." Not only could he expand his pouch, but he could craft others; pouches were dead useful, and not just for bone readings. He pondered what to do should he have pelts in excess.

Kigipigak was not exactly out of breath by the end, but he was huffing and puffing, and watched as Amalia sped off to chase more rabbits. He wheeled around to where Cerne waited. The other man stood over a pile of rabbits and openly discussed what to do with them.

The sangilak nodded. It seemed suitable for Cerne to take a large rabbit for himself, he could eat it and take the hide. I would like to take what is left to Sakhmet. We can keep the meat to split amongst everyone, but she could work on the furs, so that we have a gift for the village when we reach it.

Amalia caught another rabbit and came from the thicket with it hanging limp from her jaws. She lay it down and gently panted. Her muscles aching and burning in the best way. She felt good, alive. She had done her duty, had helped her new found family. It felt good.

Can you teach me to make one? If we have enough. I can always catch more rabbits at a later time.

She smiled at the mention of gifts for others. That was a nice idea. Her mom would have thought of something like that. A sharp pang of melancholy hit her, but she quickly pushed it aside. It was everyone's right to leave home, even if it broke their hearts. Even more so if the home no longer existed.

Amalia emerged from the brush just then, bringing with her another rabbit. Cerne nodded approvingly, and at her question, he said, "Certainly. It's fairly easy. But we'll need some sort of rope." His own pouch was strung together with dried seaweed. 

Their leader then spoke of bringing the other pelts as gifts for the village. "Of course," he told Kigipigak, dipping his head. It would be good to bring gifts to the village; he wondered how many new wolves he might meet. Looking back to Kigipigak, he asked, "How many days until we reach Moonglow?"

It was good to have so much food for his family. It was heart-warming to Kigipigak that these two people, otherwise strangers, had come together to aid in this journey and to hunt in service of the family. Kigipigak was pleased with both of them and thankful; but he was silent as they spoke to one another, not wanting to cut anyone off.

There was a plan in place for every rabbit they had caught. Everyone was agreeable. Cerne's question came next, and Kigipigak drew a slow thoughtful breath, enjoying the strong scent of the ocean that was so close-by as he considered his answer.

Our travel depends on my sons. I do not want to hurry them. It has taken us longer to reach the coast than it should because of this reason, and I think... Perhaps in a week we will have found the heel of the mountain where the village is. He amended that thought almost immediately as he peered upon the piled rabbits...

We will rest in the woods for a time. Once the boys have had their fill of the place, and we have all eaten, we will move along. It will not be much longer.

Amalia was proud of the work she had done, as well as her packmates. They had done well. They would eat well.

oh thank you, Cerne.

Amalia listened now. She had no more to say, but she enjoyed the cadence of voices. It was nice to belong again.

So short work post

Last from me <3

Cerne didn't mind their pace, though he was eager to get to the village. He nodded to Kigipigak, then offered Amalia a small smile. He would grab his hare and take it a short distance away; here, he would skin it, lay the skin out to dry, and then he tucked in, leaving the bones to be added to his kit. While the rest of the family conversed and ate, Cerne settled down for a quick nap.