Porcupine Ridge artemis

pack hunt! 2nd round starts 10/31. @Muskrat @Makono @Nutuyikruk @Envy @Dreven

Since his unsuccessful hunt with the strange golden wolf some time ago, he had been keeping an eye on the herd of mountain goats that called the ridge home. The time had come to make another attempt at the oldest, feeblest nanny, and now with the numbers to do it, Hex felt far more confident in the chance for a real meal soon.

A young squirrel had fallen from a tree nearby the rendezvous earlier in the morning; he had torn into the creature and found almost no fault inside.

The truth lies within, the spirits continued to advise. This day is auspicious.

Heartened by this spiritual green-light, Hex lifted his nose and called for his pack, directing them to gather at the edge of the pasture where the goats grazed. Once they were assembled, he would dole out instructions—himself, Muskrat, and Envy would wear down the creature with a chase, driving it toward Golden Eagle and the behemoth Dreven to bring down.

Nutu was advised to watch, though she could chase if desired—though Hex gave her strict orders to stay well clear of flying hooves and horns.

Understood? he asked, a final check before the hunt commenced.

a hunt would do well to bind them. muskrat had yet to know much of dreven or envy, the new pair keeping rather to themselves as they adjusted to the dark land. today would say much.

"watch from earth. or watch from up there," muskrat muttered of a moss-laden path which appeared to run just above the hunting-ground. it would not do well to have their newest aspirant to warriorship injured before she saw her first raid. with hex she stood in this, and she gave him a firm nod of understanding.

when the shadowknife began their run, she would be at his side.

"But!" Her voice raised in volume to argue.

It became two against one. She was ready! For a real, true hunt! A big one! The kind where teeth met blood and muscles ripped apart, where she’d earn scars to show off. They were only mountain goats. What was the worst they could do? She had teeth. They did not. Thick fur, digging claws, the predator to the prey. There was nothing a goat could do to a wolf. 

Nutu whipped forward with a stubborn step, a prideful tail raised a bit too high above her lanky legs and unfilled frame. Then, her ears fall flat and with tense shoulders, quickly understood that they were not playing right now. They were serious, and the girl took steps back with a frown. Angry, even, that they were so sure she needed to stay back today. When would it be her turn?

Who said they knew what they were talking about, anyways?

But she respected them and knew that they meant it today. They didn't think she was ready. So, she'd hang back today to- to observe. ".... Understood." 

It struck her that the new bloods were there and she grew sheepish. 

Envy crept along after the others, not as wary as Dreven in their presence, courtesy of sheer blind trust; she'd not seen the younger girl until now, and shot her a curious glance, which was undoubtedly unsettling coming from her.

Instructions were doled out. Hunting. How exhilarating. How.. not her style. Well, some things had to be done. She liked the cool mountain breeze in her fur, tasted goat on the wind; a delicacy unsavoured before.

At least all she had to do was chase. Windswept, limber and lithe, physical ability could do little to make up for a spoiled mindset. She was still lazy at heart, much more agreeable to having her meals delivered with no strain to herself.

That, and the stomp of elk hoof on her poor, once unbroken tail had effectively quelled her desire to partake.

Ah well, she could work these cliffs decently with her stature. She'd be remiss to say that the chase didn't give her a little bit of a thrill.

bloodthirsty devil.

She slipped in alongside Dreven and awaited the call to begin.

a hunt.

she ached for it in a way that was weighing so heavily upon her it might break flesh. she was given the chance to bring down the beast. alongside some newblood man, but she brushed the detail aside. focused solely upon her task given from their spiritual guider.

she said nothing, only a firm nod.

she would be in position and ready for them.

To his consternation, the only ones to show were the chasers—with the brutish closers nowhere in sight. Breathing an irritated sigh through his nostrils, he concurred with Muskrat's decision to have Nutu watch from up high, and then faced the rest of the wolves gathered.

Would three of them be enough?

Now that they were assembled near the herd, he was reluctant to re-summon those absent. Perhaps they would show, eventually. For now, though. . .

Before he could re-calculate, Golden Eagle arrived, looking fit and ready. He gave her a nod in greeting—but still, he felt less confident about his original plan, and decided to call an audible regardless.

Change of plans, he said with a shrug. That old goat? Maybe. . .we run her into the trees. Muskrat and Golden Eagle on the left, Envy and I on the right. She won't move well in there. We will. 

In the shadows, the takedown would commence.

With one final nod, he slipped from the brush, directing the hunters to follow. With luck, they'd slip through the herd like a knife, cutting off that weakest link—

once more tagging @Dreven! round 2 begins now, ends 11/10. @Muskrat, @Envy, feel free to play out their pursuit into the trees

edit: @Makono we posted over each other, lol! this is the final version from me haha

I apologize. I had no tag before this. Everytime I went to it it was not here. Apologies.

Dreven had been hidden among the wild wiid. Red singular eye taking in the hunting party. He did not trust them.

He moved forward into his position. And began to follow the leader. Keeping an eye out on Envy. He didn't know any others.

muskrat delighted, biting playfully at the air before the eagle as she moved in gliding silence to that gold-dust flank. sunyellow eyes lifted for lynx girl, seeking the moving shadow of their youngest to assure herself nutu was far from the sharp hooves.

the behemoth dreven followed; his bulk would be enough to terrify the other goats.

swiftly her speed began, matching with her running-partner. muskrat's second glance was for hex and envy, surveying before her gaze snapped back to the ridge's intended hunt.

Left behind to watch them live how she was meant to.

They ripped ahead to the goats. Makono and Muskrat, side by side to form a violent twinning storm. Hex manned the plans and formations. The strange woman, Envy, forced away from the side of the companion that she came with while Dreven needed to position wait for a takedown.

There was frustration. She saw it in their Seer's brow.

They'd not feel such a thing had they not caged her to the mountain tops.

High off the ground, stalking along with arrow eyes shooting to the old goat being dogged down by the ridge.

A low head, a hunters step and carefully leaping across the overlooking slope. Learning again, and yet nothing at all, for she didn't care about their movements and positions and nips. Only the sprinting goats. Curiously excited, and trying to not stray the trip's path by being in view.

But they'd be more focused on the herd of teeth behind them before the leeching eyes above.

She gave one last glance toward Dreven, before falling in alongside the seer like a good little listener, lanky man of shadow that he was, and wondered if she could keep pace with limbs longer than her own.

Ah, but the imminent taste of goat was enough to spurr her energy, she did not know the intricacies of tactic, only that put most simply, don't let the bastard get away. She let him choose the target, waited, watched his muscles tense in anticipation before the explosion of the chase would begin.

She did like this, in these moments where she couldn't feel the weight of tired limbs or quick breaths, only sensation was sight; latched on the scattering beasts. Not bison. Far less daunting. She wanted to rip into them, but for now, she'd follow the leader. Keep corralling them, using the land to their surroundings, taking control away from the prey.

she looked long to nutu.

the girl should have come with. she should have spilled the blood with them. yet the girl was hardly hers to tend to in any manner. for the best, truthfully. opinions held at bay as she loped steadily. the terrain underfoot was familiar even with its difficulty.

a glance to muskrat, a fleeting look to the behemoth man.

she kicked up her pace. part for show, part for every intent of cutting off each chance at escape for the creature they hunted. threatening teeth and knowing she might be met with hooves for it.

There was order in the hunt upon the open land. The goat, running as fast as her arthritic limbs would allow. The wolves, sleek shadows at her sides, snarls and snaps caught on the wind.

Then they descended into the trees, and the chase descended thus into chaos.

The shadows dappled them all in varying shades of light and dark, like the glow of wildfire on a summer's night. The terrain became too random for the nanny; as steady on her hooves as she was upon the rocky cliffs, she was just as ungainly on the forest floor.

A knotted tree root in the path—a sharp blow to the goat's hocks—and the wolves bore down quickly as she crashed to the ground.

Hex drew first blood, jaws sinking past the thick, wooly pelt into flesh. His eyes were wide, crazed with bloodlust. The fur along his spine stood high as the mountains at their backs.

round 3 starts now! ends 11/17

It was something as old as time hunting. And he did this with the same ease he always had done.

Though they were new wolves he knew his place and he helped to fell it. Though once the leader began to bite. He backed off. He wasn't looking to lose a paw for some blood thirsty beast.

Envy took great delight shredding the heels of this poor old grandma, too chicken to properly grab hold, but just bold enough to nick away and away and away. Just about through, tear a tendon right in two...

Not needed, a root seemed to do the trick well enough. She watched the others, waiting to see what they would do, first; when Hex drew first blood, she fell back and loitered along the edge.

Unbecoming of her usual enthusiasm! she defied her nature and crept around the front, finding somewhere less risky to bite. Wasn't like her size accounted for much of the restraint anyways; she'd be wasted on a leg! simply wasted! So for the greater good, she moved to find a better angle, offer pure agony to the mix.

Hehe, face. Needle-sharp canines clamped around eye socket and muzzle, occasionally let go to find somewhere else. She left most of the work to everyone else.

blood; metallic upon the air.

muskrat thought of the vale below. did they hunt with such feral ease? did viskani deign to catch her own meals? a laugh turned to growl in her throat as the goat began to falter.

for her part, the small sentinel grabbed deathly hold of the nearest flank, sawing her head to and fro, claws ripping the earth. tail revolved wildly, muskrat let herself be dragged along.