blooding the hounds of hell - round six

Dante barely heard Lasher's order, he was so intent on the creature they had sectioned off, but when it got through he wordlessly agreed. They could observe and learn for the next hunt. The first was not the one to go for the kill, nor even the second. The first thing to learn when hunting large game was caution and respect.

This would be illustrated clearly only moments later, and while he hadn't immediately registered the spoken words, he saw Lasher's demise as though in slow motion in the instant it occurred. He could not tell the extent of the blow given but it was enough to throw the older man back. Instantly the alpha sprang into action, pure fury coursing through him as he lunged for the elk's front. The movement was reminiscent of one similar, the last pack hunt they had participated in with Saena where it was the girl who had been injured. Once more his only goal was to keep the prey, and it's heavy hoofbeats, away from the fallen hunter.

He let loose a heavy snarl as he rose up, teeth latching onto the base of the elk's throat. Once there, he pushed with all his might, forcing the animal back a pace before it lifted a hoof and dealt a square rebuff to his hindquarters. There was little weight behind it but it was enough to send pain lancing through, and he tore his teeth away, leaving a wound that would prove to be fatal - just not quickly enough.

Together they would have no problem closing this fight. Dante wished to look to Lasher, but could not, for his focus needed to be on the task at hand. He did not doubt that Blue had broken from the party, hopefully to check and tend to him as necessary. With any luck he had only sustained minor injuries. Dante did not like to think on the alternative.