PACK HUNT: Thanks for Taking the Bait

He had displeased Kroc in some manner. The Epsilon was not precisely sure how. She rushed him, startling him. Ah! She took advantage of his stunned state, coercing him to kiss the ground. She put sufficient force behind the movement, making spit spout from his mouth. Disoriented, his vision swam, his legs giving out (uncomfortably) beneath him. It took him a solid beat to orientate himself, the grip of the Beta's remorseless grip threatening to cut off his air supply. Her caustic vocalization was blistery across his now tender neck: “Learn some fucking respect.” The bistre male could not much reply aside from pinning his ears and tucking his tail. Would that appease her...? It seemed so, her teeth leaving him to push on ahead. Raising from the ground, grunge clung to him. He shook to be rid of it, following Kroc as Kerosene had instructed.
INDENTHe was...baffled; thoughts muddled. What had he done to invite her ire? He knew she was a raptorial individual – that much was made defined when they first met. Back then, their differences had been momentarily settled, so why did she come at him like that? On their way to the buffalo, Tatsuya thought more on what had just happened. The realization was like a slap in the face: Kroc was miffed for testing the Alpha. This was an answer that only led to more questions. I don't understand. Members – even new ones – test their superior's leadership. This was to see if they were fit to lead and had very little to do with respect. It was the way of the wild which Tonravik was stern in enforcing. The pregnant Alpha made it a point to show him if he had crossed any lines. Huh. That's...something.
INDENTHe had not known they were to be led – all of them – unquestionably. Like they had no thoughts, concerns, or feelings about what their leaders did or did not do. It painted Tartok in a different light, like they were to be herded like cattle regardless if their herders did something wrong or not. It was unnatural...However, Tatsuya could oblige for the time being. If only to get Kroc and Kerosene off his ass. This was cause for worry to Tatsuya...It was a matter that would be touched upon later. Now was not the time for such pondering. Focused on Kroc, he followed behind her. Every now and then he looked to where Kerosene's party was but his main focus was on the Beta.
INDENTOnce they started running, Tatsuya tried his damned to keep up. He fell behind Kroc and Aariak, but he was less than a meter from the newbie. Tatsuya was not built for speed, he was built for force. This weakness of his showed now but he was close enough to Kroc to assist her should she demand it.
INDENTEach time a straggler tried to break free of the herd on their side, Tatsuya would heckle it back into place. I don't think so. For any of them to break off now during the stampede would spell disaster for all of them.
INDENTOnce Kroc issued an order to Aariak, the Zeta gave the newbie room to do as he'd been told. Best of luck. The Beta now gestured towards him, making him draw close to her roving form. He trailed two meters behind her, just enough to ensure he could do his part while staying relatively close to Kroc. Once she kicked up the speed, the distance between Zeta and Beta widened. Nonetheless, Tatsuya made sure nothing broke away. A few tried, but all failed. Once Kroc struck their target (and persisted to do so), the bistre male sped up to aid her. He snapped at what he could, mindful of the ailing creature's thundering hooves. He pestered what looked like an aggravated area on the buffalo's hip: bitten relentlessly by flies and other insect. The perfect area for his teeth. Tatsuya jumped to nip at her affliction, careful to push off of her to avoid her hooves. This slowed him down but it was a plan that hindered their prey. It visibly slowed as he tore more and more skin from her. Slow enough to land the killing blow but also fast enough to harm those foolish enough to stand in her way. Better make this count.