Wapun Meadow Although it's so romantic on the borderline tonight

PACK HUNT
First round will end once all have posted, or on January 15th. Latecomers and loners welcome of course!
No posting order this round. 
@Ancelin @Cole @Milan @Nephele @Tvar @Rala @Dolce @Athella @Anatolia @Zephyra

Steam rose from the burly animals that ploughed through a thick layer of snow that had fallen overnight in a great heap. Thick, heavy snowflakes continued to fall throughout the morning, though blue sky peeked through a gap in the clouds along the horizon, forecasting an end to the squall's onslaught. The bison moved in a line into the meadow, where they then fanned out- each segment of the herd led by a larger animal that would clear the path, and begin pawing in search of food. The smaller, younger, weaker animals trailed behind, tired by the overnight journey. 

They would be greeted in the early morning hours by the hungry Bearclaw Valley wolves. Ameline had scouted the herd moving in their direction the day before, and was pleased to see the dark figures moving through the thick haze of snow in the break of dawn. She returned to the valley's entrance where she found Athalia and Ancelin  waiting. She nodded and licked her lips hungrily. 

Athalia was then sent to search for @Towhee Jr, knowing that the hunter would not hear her summon and would need to be informed personally, if she could be found. She showed her daughter the ptero sign for pack hunt, come? while making it clear that she could be excused from the activity without penalty if she was otherwise preoccupied. 

For all others she called out, and her breath melted the snowflakes that danced near her lips. They would be wetted with blood before long, if their hunt proved to be successful.

Cole’s ears twitched at the call, and he rose from where he’d been resting near the edge of the valley. He shook off the fine dusting of snow that had settled over him, his amber eyes narrowing against the morning light as he caught sight of Ameline at the valley’s entrance.

With a low chuff of acknowledgment, he padded toward her, his sturdy frame cutting through the snow with ease. The scent of the bison hung heavy in the air, and it spurred a flicker of anticipation through him. A hunt was just the thing to shake off the lingering tension that had settled over the valley.

Gaze flicking briefly to the others gathering before focusing on Ameline. He gave a small nod, eager to begin.

nanuralaaq was wide-eyed, long-awake and waiting for ameline's suggestion at the bison herd. as silent paws carried her from the valley, she studied their hulking figures, the sheer power that they wrought with every thunderous step, and thought back to the ox that she had been raised to hunt. she thought, now, of home, as she approached those who had gathered thus far. a silent entrance ; a nod given.

the snowwoman hoped they would not be seated for long, looking towards cole and noticing the familiarity of eagerness. her tail tapped beside her, dawn-hued gaze moving towards the regina, awaiting the arrival of others, as well as the queens words.

she was ready.

she'd surely be allowed to partake when there were so many other adults, right? she was positive that cole would vouch for her if needed.

and he was exactly who she trailed after, prepared to stick near his hip for as long as she could. her tail lashed behind her with a budding excitement for this new physical challenge and experience.

On swift legs, she heeded the Regina's call. A call to hunt. To feast. The gold ringed daughter slipped through the compact, freshly fallen snow. Clumping to her legs, hips and haunches. She was unbothered. Only focused, as always.

The thick, musky scent of the beasts roaming in the meadow enticed her curiosity. She had never seen the likes of Bison before. Now, as she made her appearance like a trickle of ink against pure parchment, there they were. Her eyes locked on the distant, hulking figures.

Ever the picture of tightly coiled intensity, Athella snaked forward, head already low in a predatory arch. She licked her lips, not without restraint. Here she would wait until Bearclaw had gathered. Only when her mother spoke and with permission, would she act as deemed fit. For now, she settled close with an affectionate graze of teeth upon her Regina's jaw, relishing in the unity this hunt would bring.

tvar lumbers forth from the shadows, his hulking frame dark against the snow as he emerges into the gathering crowd. he offers a faint nod to those already assembled—cole, rala, the regina herself—before settling to a stop near the edge of the group, his pale blue eyes narrowing as they scan the horizon. the bison are a sight to behold, steam rising from their thick hides as they churn through the snow. formidable beasts.

as he approaches cole, his pale blue eyes briefly catch the other man’s amber gaze, offering a flicker of acknowledgment.

he chuffs low and deep, a simple greeting, as he comes to a stop beside the guard. tvar doesn’t speak, as is his way, but his posture is open, tail swaying faintly behind him in the subtlest gesture of camaraderie. cole is one of the few he respects—a steady presence in the valley, a man who knows his worth and stands by it. if they are to hunt together, tvar knows he can rely on him.

possessive and hotblooded, the rex of bearclaw valley saw light upon the snow flash from the bearclaw upon his chest. he proclaimed himself with a flashing grin which was none too warm, though approval shone in his melonii-eyes for each wolf present.
a legacy was being born here, embodied in each strength offered by the bearclaw inhabitants.
when ameline moved, he too flowed beside her, assured in their mutual desire and the bannering flash of his variegated tail.

Milan was no hunter, and performed rather poorly against larger creatures; so she was really only here to support her packmates. A cheerleader at the sidelines to keep an eye on how each wolf was doing.

She stood a safe distance away, eyeing the hulking creatures with some unease. She knew well of the damage they could do, especially against inexperienced hunters. She hoped for no broken bones.

towhee is found and told of a hunt in endearingly clumsy ptero and with a nod she follows a few paces behind to the gathering place, her presence proceeded by ghost who settles onto her shoulders when she draws to a stop.

she is more clear headed than she'd been in days and no longer is plagued by the insistent burning of the days prior; a relief.

towhee takes in the wolves gathered, her gaze lingering on tvar for a moment longer the rest, before it slides back and rests upon ameline; awaiting.

pulled away from his duties, the outlaw had been drawn toward the gathering. a hunt, the wind carried whispers. his participation wasn't an obligation, but a necessity is his mind. he would aid his strength, his teeth, for the betterment of bear claw. 

and so he lumbered out of the thicket to join them all, his steps heavy, eyes shaded. amongst them all stands out rala; he moved to glide against her side, finding his place alongside her. he met the gazes of tvar and cole with a dip of his head. 

the bison grazing ahead reminded him of home, a bittersweet inkling. he'd hunted them before, and he'd do so again, this time in the company of his people. his new purpose.

she'd been on the far end of of the valley when the summons for a hunt swirled through the air.

her steps were steady, but the distance between herself and the meadow was great and she ultimately ended up being one of the last to arrive at the gathering. her attention drifted from body to body, softening when she spotted anatolia and cole positioned near one another.

zephyra stumbled in soon after with a mess of bedhead and looking like she'd just arisen from the dead. the stormcloud swept alongside her smallest daughter, guided her near to where ana and cole stood, and waited to hear for any direction.

a peek through the mass of bodies brought a slight shock to the woman when she finally realized the creature they sought to hunt were the walking titans of her former home.

unlike her mother, there was no excuse for delay in which zephyra joined the hunting party. she had been asleep when the call to hunt awoke her, but she'd taken her sweet time to get up before marching toward the gathering.

she stretched, yawned, stopped to relieve herself. her steps were sluggish, a tired paw rising to rub at an eye as she finally joined the others in their huddle.

hunting was her sister's thing, and zeph felt no particular call to it other than out of necessity. the only reason she was here and not still sleeping is because she knew she'd drive her mother into a fit of panic if she'd chosen not join them.

y’all are GREAT! Round two ends January 23.
No posting order

Wolves gathered, young and seasoned together. She greeted them with a happy chuff as one after another her packmates arrived with eagerness in their eyes, hunger in their wetted lips. The bison could be scented even from here in the Valley; the heavy snowfall could obscure vision, but not smell. 

She motioned for her packmates to draw near, forming a tight circle so their breath might rise as one thick mist, and so her words could be spoken barely above a whisper. She set herself so she would be facing Towhee Jr directly; she did not have enough Ptero to be able to translate everything correctly, but knew the woman could read lips. The bithon herd thtruggleth in the Thnow, She blinked away a few heavy snowflakes. The thtrong forge the path, the thmaller,  weaker oneth follow. They thplit into many lineth; we will creep forward until we can thee’em, an’ target the latht two in line, in the nearetht line.

The two, smaller bison would be enough to feed them- but less likely to wound them than the bull that led the string. 

The bison’s progress was slow, laborious; it would give them the opportunity to get near. They would not be heard over the crunching of snow beneath mighty hooves, or be seen through the heavy snowfall until it was too late. 

Anthuhlin, Cole, Tvar, Nephele, Zephyra, Anatolia, Andrelia, Athelle an’ Athalia- I want you to harry the retht of the herd into motion. Get them away from the target. Thend ‘em flyin. They should panic and go, but watch yourthelveth. Bithon are mean. She said with a nod. Milan, Athella, Dolce, Rala, Towhee Jr- you’re with me. We’re gonna thircle our target, keep ‘im itholated. Nip at ‘im to make him thcared, but hold him in pothition while the retht cometh back. Then each group target-th one, an’ we kill ‘em both, eat like royalty.

Got it? She asked once, rhetorically- before she sank into a hunter’s crouch, and began to make her way through the hazy snowfall toward the Meadow.

There, just as they had been before, long strings of Bison ploughed through the snow, their heavy heads and shoulders almost completely covered by fallen snowflakes. Heads bowed, the leader of each throng tossed away snow using its great forehead to heave it away, its horns to break through the crust. Behind each leader, a line of smaller animals.

Ameline’s eyes locked on the final two bison, in the nearest line. She checked once with her packmates for readiness, before she began to fly through the snow, circling around behind the string so she could be among the first to form a wolf corral about the final two bison, eyes sharp and teeth revealed in an eager grin.

He listened intently to Ameline's strategy, his head nodding slightly at her commands. His amber eyes flicked briefly to Anatolia, the younger wolf standing close by. With a gentle nudge of his nose to her shoulder, he silently conveyed his message: stay close.
As the group shifted into action, Cole moved with a quiet but deliberate stride, his muscles coiling and releasing with each step through the snow. His large frame was built for endurance and power, and he carried himself with the confidence of a wolf who had weathered countless hunts.
He glanced back at Ameline for a moment, giving her a firm nod of understanding before turning his attention to his group. The distant forms of the bison were becoming clearer through the veil of falling snow, their bulk lumbering forward with the determined but slow pace of animals fighting against the cold.
With a quick, determined look to his group, Cole surged forward, his breath coming heavier as he began the task of startling the herd. His powerful frame carved through the snow, his focus narrowing on the task at hand: splitting the line and driving the herd into a controlled chaos.

perked ears and sharp, focused eyes listened attentively to the words of the regina. for a moment, she looked away, towards the line of bison ; they reminded her of home, and yet these were bigger, would prove more of a challenge, should they have been fought in the arctic climate where umingmait so typically grazed. dolce's presence was a comfort.

she was quick-footed as they begun to move, the similarity of the muskox hunt coursing through her veins, the snow bringing her back to a moment in her youth. though small with lightsteps, a well-muscled figure betrayed her keen skill at the hunt, her thirsty gaze striking the bison with a hungry intent. nanuralaaq did not nod, did not look around nor say anything ; she let her paws carry her, for they knew what was needed to do.

rala, too, streamed forwards, ameline's group providing a quiet reassurance. they would form their border around the weakest links, keeping them in place ; weary.

tvar's sharp blue eyes tracked the lumbering herd as the bison carved their path through the snow. his attention lingered on the final two animals at the rear of the line—the weaker ones they would target. instinct surged through him, his muscles coiling with anticipation. with a low chuff, he signaled his readiness to ameline, his breath misting in the cold air.

when cole surged forward, tvar followed. he hung to the flank of the group, ensuring no stragglers broke away from the controlled chaos. his focus sharpened, his mind void of anything but the rhythm of the hunt—the thundering hooves, the scent of adrenaline, the thrill of teamwork.

they worked as a cohesive unit, driving the herd into a frenzy, forcing the bison into action. tvar's lips curled in a silent snarl as he lunged toward one of the smaller animals, his presence alone enough to spur it into panicked flight.

"great strat, babe," ancelin murmured, all he would say before ameline's quick leadership divided them into two groups and two roles.
when tvar and cole soared forward, ancelin followed at their right. his eyes were trained more on the younger wolves, those who had come to join them as well as his own daughters.
hunters in their own right, they had earned the lack of their father's interference, but it didn't mean he had no worry for them.
the cold stung his eyelids as a loud, cracking snarl broke from his throat and he cut between the milling bison, driving the nearest off, back, tail revolving wildly to keep his balance in the churning snow.

she had no qualms with the strategy set forth by the regina, but her stomach still shifted with nervous anticipation. she slunk forward, close enough so that both daughters and cole could hear before they set forward; a soft, whispered, "be careful," ushered forth.

she knew what these hoofed giants were capable of.

motherly instincts took her to immediately shepherding the youngest of them, both her own girls and the leader's. she surged forward, keeping a safe distance, and demonstrated how to safely go about guiding the bison into fleeing.

after a beat she backed off, giving space for the girls and others to take over, her attention bouncing from one youth to the next, words of encouragement and guidance offered to any she thought might need it.

still half-asleep, zephyra didn't quite catch all that was said by ameline, but heard the gist of it. they had to chase the bison away from the two they would hunt; sounded easy enough. 

she rolled a stiff shoulder, slinking after her mother as they moved to position themselves to give chase. one of the bearclaw girls stood aside her, andrelia,l she thought her name was. the two girls sprung after the beasts with equal steps, zephyra moving to the front lines to snap at the creatures once instructed to. 

the hunt was admittedly exhilarating, but more than that she found herself wrapped up in the smell of it all. she knew these beasts, she just couldn't bring herself to remember how or from where.

Next round will end Feb 3. as always! late joiners welcome- just stick 'em in with one of the two groups, and if you miss a round, it's all good! <3

The bison looked like great brown bounders, ambling forward slowly as they ploughed through the heavy snow. The flank of wolves approaching swiftly caught their attention, and the animals balked in their progress; their easiest route was to go back the way they came- but the animals at the front of the closest string of bison would quickly find that path blocked by the group that Ameline had taken, cutting off their exit and the ability to find strength in their herd. 

It was two bison that she circled, keeping a wary eye over her shoulder lest any of the other, larger ones slip through their vanguard and plough toward them. She kept an eye on Rala, on her right- ensuring that the gap between them was just enough to discourage an animal from bolting. She cast a glance over her other shoulder and barked in encouragement to the one who followed her. 

Thteady, thteady, She said calmly, to her ring of wolves. Don't let 'em thlip out- She said, just as one panicked, and made an attempt at barging through heavy, fresh snow. Rein' 'im in! She called out, hoping one of her circle might shepherd the bison back with the other, who seemed frozen in fear. 

She put all of her faith in the rest of the group- hoping that they would keep all of the larger, more aggressive animals at bay, and send them flying toward the woodlands.

The bison herd had grown restless, their heavy bodies shifting uneasily as the wolves encroached. He kept a calculated pace, ensuring he maintained sight of his companions. They needed precision now more than ever—this wasn’t just about the kill; it was about strategy.
Send 'em runnin', Cole muttered under his breath, his gaze darting between Tvar and Ancelin. Rala moved with determination, her focus unwavering, while Ameline’s commands carried with calm authority.
When one bison panicked and bolted toward the edges of the group, Cole reacted instantly. His muscles coiled, and he charged forward, intercepting the massive creature before it could escape. His bark was sharp, cutting through the frosty air as he snapped at the bison’s flank, forcing it to veer back toward the others. The creature let out a grunt of frustration, stumbling slightly as it rejoined the herd.
Drive 'em away, Cole barked, his voice low. He shifted his position, angling his body to steer the remaining bison away from the two they had already isolated. Each step calculated to apply just enough pressure without sending the herd into chaos.

Without a moments hesitation, Athella veered away to follow Ameline and her group. She stayed close, ears pinned down while the mammoth beasts grew closer and closer in her vision. She focused on the two smaller animals lingering towards the back. The ones they would target.

Chilled air ran it's fingers through her fur. Only stoking her heated excitement further. Muzzle drawn tight, sharp, throaty snarls were meant to spook the prey. Or antagonize. Anything to get a reaction out of the behemoths. And one did, panicking to try and make a run for it.

Under her mother's guidance, Athella took action to tighten the noose. Boldly, she surged forward, thrusting the weight of her fore limbs aggressively against the snow in a show of defiance. Bone white teeth snipped on empty air, just shy of the hair of a retreating tassel. Instinct pushed her back, diving around out of reach of a flailing hoof.

ancelin's fatal flaw was that he had stopped listening. he trusted the wolves of bearclaw to slash and to dodge, and through his trust he wove his hard steps to athella's side.
brave girl! brave baby; he remained at her side long enough to ensure the bison went galloping off before he moved to the next, and the next, jostling playful shoulders with cole and lifting his head from time to time toward ameline.
but all he could hear were the shouts, the hoofbeats, and his own thudding pulse; ancelin shouted in triumph as another of the huge creatures sped away, narrowly glancing the rex in his celebration.

pping zeph this round

nephele stood as the backline support, ready to rush forward should she be needed but content to let the others of her group take the lead. zephyra remained fixated on one member of the herd that continued to linger near the edge, snapping at it's side but being wary enough to not get a hoof to the head.

nephele, though consumed with a mother's worry, did not move to stand between her daughter and the task at hand. zephyra needed to learn how to hunt within a group, and nephele needed to learn to let her.

and so the stormcloud rounded on a different part of the herd, cautious with her steps as her group continued to push them away from the two they had already isolated.

squeezing in a tvar post for this round >.>

tvar breaks away from cole, his focus shifting toward ancelin and athella. paws churn snow as he weaves around the shifting herd, barking sharp commands to keep the line tight. his eyes catch the rex in a brief moment of triumph, howling as the bison veer in the direction they want.

he sprints to ancelin's side, matching his pace. his voice cuts through the chaos, teasing but loud enough to be heard. don’t go getting trampled now, rex. can't have you dying before the pups show up!

his tail waves, adrenaline thrumming in his veins as he angles toward another panicked bison to help steer it away.