Swiftcurrent Creek The Hunter's Arrow Shines · Pack Hunt

They began to flood in – the first arrivals were unknown to him, though each greeting was met with a dip of his own muzzle and a content sway of his tail. He did not break his silence, but he did not take an unwelcoming stance. When Njal arrived, a crooning growl escaped his jaws at the greeting before the younger wolf cast a friendly nip to the regal’s cheek, as well as a submissive nudge to the warrior’s chin.

About to repeat the process to the fiery she-wolf that came next, he stopped immediately when he realized it was not Fox – amusement rippled through him, wondering if the Alpha had a twin, though still, he was vigilante in his silence.

As the group trickled in, the cinnamon male was impressed by the size of the group. Fox made her appearance though chose to remain on the outskirts – her wound still clearly visible to him and the first thing to draw his gaze in. With a bow of his muzzle to the lady of the creek, his eyes then solely landed upon Bazi. A grin broke through the stoical mask placed upon his features, and as she spoke, he canted his muzzle down to better listen. While he did not understand why, he agreed with a nod, bumping her beneath the chin in submission after.

“Mule deer, anyone?” His rumble was a quiet question, though he did not leave room for an answer. With a small smirk, the large beast turned, beginning to lead the way to the group of deer a bit off. It was a quiet walk – any rumbles of noise were hushed by Scimitar, or at least tried. Minutes stretched on, though patience would win out when they came upon the herd.

Stilling, his eyes flickered over each, a deadpan seriousness within his gaze. Taking each of his comrades in to inspection, he quieted his voice. The group was so large, he held no doubt they could at least grab one. Nodding in the direction of the more sickly doe, he cleared his throat – they were wolf, and as such, they would only prey upon the creatures that would likely not reproduce again to continue the herds that fed them.

“Njal, Danica, Star, Bazi and… you,” he rumbled, his eyes falling upon Razo, a wolf he did not know. “You will take the sickly doe off to the side. Bazi and Star will keep it within your three’s reach – keep it away from the herd and make it’s death swift.” With another quick glance to those remaining he felt a pang at putting Bazi in another sub-party where he could not keep watch on her – but she wanted to be on the outskirts, and the next deer was further within the herd.

“Myself and you four will take the younger doe closer to the middle – follow my lead. If they are too spooked, hooves will possibly fly and we will move away.” There was a pause as he allowed the information to settle – with such a large pack, it was in their best interest to attempt a capture to two – and should any finish with their own deer prior, he could only hope they would attempt to help the other party.

“You, sir and you,” he murmured, nodding to both Galileo and Farkas, “will move to the attack. The other two will fan out and maintain the creature in its spot to keep it from fleeing.” Fox was the only one he had not given orders to – only because if she cared to join, he assumed she would do so on her own circumstances – her injury, however, might hinder her.

With that, he gave a nudge to Bazi’s cheek, if only briefly. Moving to his own group, he regarded each before leading the way to skirt around the herd and opposite the others – within moments, the hunt would begin as Scimitar made sure the other team was ready before traipsing out in the open, stirring the herd to quiet fear. Loping through the deer, he began to test them, some still in form as they did not fear him, others shifting. Glancing back to his own team to assure their readiness, he lunged to the deer he had targeted, causing her to flinch in protest before quickly bouncing away from him in the opposite direction.

The hunt had begun, and the adrenaline coursed through his veins.