Hoshor Plains Bison Hunt 1 [Hephs group]

Heph returned Rodyn's smile, steeling her own nerves and forcing herself to focus. Many wolves had gathered to hunt this prey but it would be no less formidable. She did not want to let down the wolves who had journeyed all this way with high hopes for the hunt nor her own leader who had placed his trust in her. Returning Mireille's look with light eyes and a smile which spread across her face upturning her lips first and then revealing her teeth and readiness for the hunt, glad to have the other wolf there.

Matteo had gone to stand by Arrluk and she gave him an encouraging smile and a wag of her tail, she could sense his nerves and took note of them. Hesitation could prove dangerous on the hunt and she wished she had been able to speak to him earlier, to assuage his worries. He had grown much since coming to Moontide, already having to had face more of the world with Twin Isles falling and she trusted in his strength. Arrluk it seemed had returned from his journey with confidence and quietude, a young man already.

The slight wolf beside Valiant caught her eye and she offered a nod and a friendly gentle smile, Raindrop Rodyn had called her. She was not sure how she would hunt, size did not make a hunter for speed and nimbleness counted too, but the wolf looked as if she had gone between meals for a time. Valiant she had seen hunt before and knew that he was a strong and capable hunter.

When her gaze turned to Phox, glad that Rodyn had chosen to have him beside her, for all that he had the experience to direct a group of his own, she gave a smile, a blink that shifted for a split second into a grimace, her nervousness showing. When he had come to aid Moontide she had had a chance to see him hunt, to see him track, and knew that though his age and missing limbs meant he might not match the speed of some of the younger wolves his presence would be a boon for their hunt. With Rodyn and Aiolos in Moontide and Moonglow she had not had much occasion to lead hunts, and it had been a long while since she had hunted bison. But they had tracked the herds and she had scouted the land, felt she knew its dips and rises and flat lands and the rivers and tributaries that ran through it. She trusted in the skill of the wolves assembled, and as always her heart yearned and strained to rise to every challenge set before her so her tail wagged as she turned to address the wolves gathered.

Her voice was clear, a hint of her excitement shining through in the bright bark. "We'll follow the herd, and then divide. I have hunted alongside many of you and know you are skilled, swift, and strong. We must take care to guard ourselves from this prey but it doesn't stand a chance against us." She set out, trusting the others to follow her as she skirted around the edges and eventually came to stop along a rare patch of high ground a ways away from the other hunting groups for competing ambushes would be in danger of crushing both hunting parties between.

There she picked out the prey from those Phox had tracked and Rodyn had spotted and mentioned. "To the southwest, the one with the aging pelt and the limp." The season had not been kind to the creature, though not fully lame she walked with discernable pain along her back left leg, and though her eyes had not gone cloudy and her pelt not ragged there was a dull sheen to it and flecks of age that spoke of many seasons traveling the plains. But with a young and uncertain hunter and an older wolf she chose the certainty of their speed over the reduced danger of one with a horn broken or some other impediment to its defenses. She would take the time to point it out or allow the others to fix their gaze upon the old bison before speaking again, this time of strategy. "First we will all work together to cut her from the herd. Phox, Matteo, and Raindrop when she begins to separate stay between her and the herd make sure she cannot go back and keep the others away. Matteo and Raindrop take up the front and Phox behind them, keep your eye on the herd and on her, call out a warning if any come too close to us." She would trust in Matteo's youth and strength and Raindrop's swiftness to drive away the panicked bison, and Phox's keen eyes to pick apart the movement so fthe herd and give them warning.

Now turning to Mireille and Arrluk she spoke. "Mireille and Arrluk you will be our strikers. Follow her closely and attack her flanks and her back leg, only when you see an opportunity for the killing blow approach her neck." She hoped between Mireille's experience and slight size and Arrluk's youth and large frame they would be able to avoid the strikes of the bison and bring it down. Her eyes blazed with confidence a decisive nod of her head. And then to Valiant a wide grin, almost a baring of teeth. "Valiant, you and I will bait her out. We stay at the front when she runs and if she stalls. We'll create opportunities to strike and be ready to help whoever calls. It's a dangerous enough job already so don't go taking unnecessary risks." They would be poised to shift the bison's attention should one of the striker's call out, but not needed to go in for the kill if Phox, Matteo, or Raindrop needed help.

"If anyone wishes to swap roles or ask questions we can do so now. Once the hunt starts we will have to adapt so trust your instincts and remember to call out so we can work with you. If there is nothing else we will go on my mark." She spoke firmly but not unkindly leaving room for anyone to speak who wished or needed to add something. While she had assigned the roles based on the chances she had to observe them, excepting Raindrop, she did not know all of them well.

I ended up rolling for it but here's the plan: Arrluk lands the killing blow
2 rounds of hunting posts (everyone can post say hello/swap roles/get ready for the chase) and then Heph will post to start the hunt that will be round 1, then last round of hunting posts, and then if anyone wants to get a last post in celebrating/eating/hauling the catch back to their pack's camp then we can free for all it at that point
for this thread everyone here is free to powerplay Heph (minus death/major injury) to help with the continuity :D