Most small talk did not suit her and even less so with the prospect of a hunt. It never occurred to her that others may not be as comfortable in silence as she was. Nevertheless, even now, after her question, she remained quiet and focused as Pied sprung into action upon an unfortunate mouse. It had happened swiftly, from the second the rodent appeared to its end at the paws of Pied, and Ame watched impassively as she loomed nearer to investigate the kill -- small as it was, it was still fresh food. The scent of the newly-shed blood tickled her nostrils and her stomach gave an anxious twist.
She began to step back and prepared to head on to look for more like this. Pied's words (especially when they came to be the answer to earlier's question) then slowed her down and an ear remained angled her way.
Evidently the voodoo pack was not flourishing (numbers wise). Questions arose as she learned of this, yet she swallowed them back down. Was prey to blame, or other reasons? She did know it could be nearly anything. However the offer brought her thoughts back to the here and now immediately. She shook her head in staunch refusal. No, you killed it. Perhaps there are more near,
she said even if she did not care for it all that much. If not, she would go without for now and with that said, she got to moving again which left Pied no room to object.
Now with more motivation, she put her nose to the ground and set to threading through the tall grasses. Scents were sprinkled here and there of old and new alike. She wanted to find their little mouse holes in hopes that there would be someone home.
Focused, she eventually felt like some progress was being made although it did seem like so long since she had smelled the fresh kill, which was surely warming Pied's belly by now. Then suddenly, she heard a nearby rustle. Small, faint, but not unnoticed by her ears, she zeroed in quickly and then flushed the rodent from hiding. This opened an opportunity for her and she swept in with snapping teeth.
She missed the first try and her jaws closed around air. A growl rumbled forth and her second attempt came with a greater punch -- she sprung forward with even more urgency and seized the small mammal. This time, her mouth snapped shut with a crunch.
Triumphant, the loner lifted her head to see Pied's doings so far and realized the hunt had taken her even further to the west than realized. Amekaze had been absorbed in her own hunt and subsequent kill that she had momentarily lost track of her, but rapidly sought to change this. Pied appeared to be a very good-natured wolf. However, letting her too far out of her sights did not seem quite wise. Or it was possible that she was being overly wary still. With company so infrequent, she found it hard not to be so.