Bramblepoint BWP3: PREY OPPORTUNITY

She sent the Beta a small smile, ready to work with him and Pearl to take down the bear. Kareja rushed for the bear amongst her pack mates and the three wolves from the other pack. 

The small white female lurched for the bear's shoulder, surprised at how large it was up close. She growled as she dug her teeth in, holding on tight as she grabbed its soft underbelly with her claws and dug them in, leaving small gashes in her wake.

short post because its wayyyy past my bed time

Valtyr watched, and noted, all the small interactions between the wolves as the leaders spoke. The way Aduin watched Brandy protectively, how Kareja stepped to guard her packmates, Embry's proud stance, Brandy's innate confidence, and how the dark beta diplomatically subdued his people. He could tell Pearl knew the Fen pack had the upper hand, therefor their negotations were easily mitigated.

"Roger that," he told his alpha as the joint clan moved in tandem. The larger or more experienced wolves led the charge, while Valtyr joined the second wave as instructed. Immediately, the bear was swarmed with technical precision. The firefoot, however, was not a creature built for fighting such fierce game. Bean-legged and slim, Val could not match others' dense brawn or their sturdy, low center of gravity. Neither agile nor particularly strong, Valtyr moved to the front of the creature. Perhaps his height would seem intimidating from the beast. Roughly, he barked and brayed to stir up a ruckus, snapping at the great bear's face whenever the chance arise with the intention to distract the animal and save his friend's from its unmerciful fangs and claws.

Pearl met her mark with fury, all hunger tossed out the window. Or rather, just a major drive in taking the beast down. She clamped down at an angle, grasping just below with her front claws and digging her hind ones into the dirt below. The small pale wolf could still do a lot of damage given proper motive, and what damage she did. She tore and tore at one spot, the others creating enough chaos and other wounds to distract it enough for her to tear its hide and taste blood. Her eyes flew open at the taste. Blood. Finally.

Of course, the bear unfortunately noticed that now. Pearl hoped that the others were doing their job and working on ripping out whatever, as long as this bear was dying with minimal injuries. Its roars of fury and pain seemed to grow in volume, as if they weren't eardrum-bursting enough already. Whatever sucker, you're dying anyway, you're losing, give up. As a cruel irony, karma payback, and stupidly forseeable twist that the writer really wanted to implement for reasons, the black bear swung its paw 'round back in an effort to locate the source of at least one of the pains happening simultaneously on its body. Pearl happened to be ripping deeper into the side attempting to hit an organ at this time, so inveloped (figuratively and literally) in the side that it didn't occur to her that bears also had claws. Very, very sharp claws. Razors seemed to slice at her shoulder, leaving a wave of pain, and possibly some muffled curses, in its wake.

In all fairness, this only drove her to kill the damned son of a biscuit even faster.

He was thankful his packmates took his direction well. He really didn't need or want to make a scene with them in the middle of negotiations and hunting. They were all working together to take this beast down, and Steady was confident that they would soon have meat filling their bellies. 

He sunk his jaws into the side of the bear again, this time holding his grip and jerking his head. He felt flesh rip and blood began to flow freely from the abdomen of the bear. It roared, legs swinging this way and that, trying to swipe at the wolves. Steady didn't know who, if anyone, was hit. He continued to work on taking the bear down, going for a hind leg this time. He sunk his teeth in and put all his muscle and weight into jerking, until the bear finally turned his way. Steady maneuvered to stay behind the bear, just out of his reach, while giving the others the opportunity to strike while he was distracted.

The leg maneuver wasn't working. The bear was solid as a tree trunk, and he wasn't going down without a fight. Phocion decided to look for something better, a fleshier part of the bear to strike. He detached himself from the leg and took a step back, watching intently. Yes, there was some room to bite on the creature's lower belly. . .

Before he could finish that thought, one of the bear's massive paws missed a wolf clinging to its neck and crashed into Phocion's face, leaving a large gash down his cheek. "Motherf--" He was cut off as yet another blow struck him, this time in the shoulder. Oh, hell no, Phocion thought, teeth gritted with rage and pain, and shot in like a bolt of white lightning, sinking his fangs into belly-flesh.

He tore and tore, adding his claws as well. He had no love for this bear now; he was ready to rip the stupid creature's guts out. Blood filled his mouth, and he spit it out the sides of his muzzle as he went on, continuing to bite down hard.

The bear was hella mad now, a bunch of wolves tearing into it at once. Zeke had to let go, it's claws were getting dangerously close to him, and he wasn't in the best place. Just then a large paw swung towards him, it was trying to get him off. He scrambled upwards attempting to jump onto its back to attack it's nape. But the bear was fast. It's paw slammed into his own, raking its claws down. Pain burned through his body, three long gashes from his shoulders to his back legs. Luckily he bear didn't cut to deep, but the impact from the hit had knocked the air out of him. He let go, falling to the ground and hurrying away from the animal. He had to take a break but he wasn't giving up.

Ezekiel watched the bear from the edge of the clearing, awestruck at the sight of so many wolves working together. They were winning, soon this bear wouldn't be able to continue on. After a few moments of breathing, Zeke jumped back in, slipping underneath the bear and ripping his teeth into the soft of its neck. He hurried out after the bear roared angrily, then returned to attack its side. He'd managed a pretty deep bite at its neck, and it wouldn't last much longer with the help of the others.

Horosk stared at the scene. Two bears, being snarled at and attacked by a bunch of wolves over a scrap of meat. He was taken aback by the aggression from the wolves especially, even to one another. Was this really what the Wilds had come to? He glanced at Brandy and some of the others before joining in. So be it. It was unlike him to participate in such things, but it was for survival. It was a piece of hope, among the land that had gone to hell.

Brandy ripped and ripped, feeling her own energy draining as she watched the life drain from the predator. Everything she pulled off was swallowed directly, fighting against the claws of hunger gripping her belly. Her diet of bugs and rodents had kept it at bay for the most part, but the further this famine went on the more difficult it was. The copper females leg stung, and it'd snatched at her to inflict a scratch across her face. By the scents in the air, she was not the only one to be injured, but in her mind she prayed she was the only one.

Valtyr barked and bayed, snapping near the bear's face but always making sure to dance out of striking range before the beast could manage a swipe. The tactic worked long enough for the team to grab hold of their quarry, but when the pack's fangs sank into flesh, the creature turned -- irate and savage -- onto its assailants. Quickly, it drew blood. Pearl was the first to receive a blow, red blossoms of blood flowering across her alabaster pelt. The Silvertip wolves were marked as well, the bear's large paws swatting away the hunters in an effort to free itself. With a new found aggression, Valtyr joined the fray once more while its attention was turned to his brother's and sisters. His bit into the bear just behind the arm and began to rend its flesh apart.

Quickly, the prey's energy waned. Its movements became more lethargic as it was overtaken. Soon, it would collapse altogether.

The wolves, though separated by different packs, worked together in their goal to bring the bear down. Each wolf was doing their part to either distract the bear or dig into its flesh. Steady knew it could not survive for much longer. The wolves that were tearing at the flesh had done much damage, and the beast was losing blood quickly. Its roars weren't as strong, and its swipes were halfhearted. While the will to live was strong, the body was not able to back it up any longer.

 The bear began to falter, and it only increased Steady's determination to bring it down. They were winning, and soon they would feast. The black wolf moved to the bear's side and sunk his teeth into the shoulder, using his own weight to try and bring the bear to the ground. He pulled and jerked and heaved and yanked, and his jaws repositioned every time the flesh tore. 

 Eventually, the beast went down, breathing its last breath before giving its body to the wolves. Now, they could feast. Steady was respectful, taking a spot by the abdomen, near a back leg. He chowed down in that one spot, his gaze darting to the other wolves, including his pack mates. He wanted no aggression from Phocion and Ezekiel, fearing it would provoke the other wolves to chase them off. They were still outnumbered here, and regardless of the truce he and the Alpha had made, things could always go wrong.

I hope this doesn't go too far ahead of everyone else! If it does, I'll change it!

Aduin continued to do what he could, even if it was as little as possible. Doing nips here and there. It wasm ore like he was playing with the bear, having a spar, rather than try to kill it. Thing is, he'd never killed anything larger than a goose. 

Soon it went down, but he stepped back while out of breath. He would most likely get some after everyone else had. But for now, he went to Brandy, worried about her. He just stood by her, too out of breath to even speak while gazing at the bear. Not taking note of the wounds she had. Nor looking at any one else.

The others were injured though some managed not to end up scathed by the bear. Kareja was one of such lucky ones though she received a minor injury when the bear finally toppled over and crushed one of her paws. With a yelp, she managed to pull it from underneath the predator before limping away.

The small female didn't go to far in case the pack needed her for whatever reason, keeping an eye on both packs while waiting for her right to eat as a subordinate.

Ezekiel felt the beast going down. Dead. Finally! Back stinging from the claw marks, Zeke took no moment to rest before putting himself beside Steady and digging in. The red flesh tasted like heaven in his mouth. He couldn't have imagined a better taste. This would feed them all surely, but would this other pack allow them t take some home for the others. Zeke noticed Steady's glances at his pack mates. He kind of knew what Steady would be saying. 'No aggression blah blah blah'. Ezekiel gave him a respectful nod as if to say, 'I promise'. And so he continued to eat, making sure not to intrude where the other pack had their feast.

Finally, the great creature's energy waned as death took the last of its life. The light from its incensed gaze faded away and its muscles went slack. Every wolf dragged the bear to the ground when they knew the fight to be over, and some wasted no time digging into their supper - ravenous hunger motivating every one. However, some of the Fen wolves stepped to the side, either to tend to their wounded or to wait for their turn in respect of pack laws. However, the Silvertip wolves, though respectful in what part of the kill they fed upon, did not wait for Pearl to take her piece.

Valtyr, feeling gutsy from their victory, felt the need to assert himself at the table - if anything, to keep the Silvertip wolves in check (or so he hold himself). He took his place near the silver Ezekiel, body rigid as he dug into their kill. All the while, his copper eyes looked around at the others, watching for any sign of hostility.

It seemed a great relief when the last thrashings of the bear ceased, like the stress had been lifted. Well, almost. There was still the matter of peacefully eating the creature together. Pearl took a place across from Steady, feeling fresh hunks of meat finally hitting her stomach. It was refreshing, almost. She surveyed the damage done to everone around her, including her own injury. There hadn't been any serious, thankfully, but they would all have trouble healing. 

She remembered later to grab a sizeable piece for Sebastian, who had stayed behind to gaurd the territory. Though tough, she was proud of her ability to lead her own as well as another group, despite the hunger that hung around as a constant cloud, making everyone more irritable. She caught Val's eye, silently telling him to settle down, it was over. Looking up, she also beckoned Kareja over to replace her spot.

Horosk grimaced. The scene wasn't pretty. It was only when he saw Kareja that he brightened up. "Kareja!" He called, unsure if she had heard him.

Hearing her name, Kareja turned and smiled at Horosk though it was more of a pained grimace. Her paw hurt dreadfully but she still tried to be polite to her friend. Her crush on him had been brief given his reclusive nature but she could still be kind to him. 

Seeing Pearl beckon her foreward, Kareja had to restrain herself from dashing over eagerly. The girl took up a place by the others, tearing off her own chunk and gobbling it down. Her stomach clenched painfully at the sudden amount of food and she seemed to have trouble eating a normal sized portion. The meat though, tasted divine and she felt a swell of triumph and pride at having helped fell this beast.

After a brief yet brutal struggle, the bear finally toppled like a felled tree, coming to the ground with a muffled thud. The two packs had worked successfully to bring the creature down and now were able to enjoy the fruits of their labor. Phocion had escaped the scuffle mostly unscathed, though blood trickled down his cheek and on his side where the bear had struck him.

Minding Steady's "behave" look to both Ezekiel and him, Phocion approached the kill and sank his teeth into the bear's flank, avoiding the spots where the wolves of the other pack were already feasting. Sweet blood filled his mouth, along with drool, and he began to dig in, devouring the flesh before him with an almost fanatical vigor.

Brandy managed to slide away from the bear and avoid being crushed, limping off to the side and licking some of the blood from her fur. It wasn't too bad: she should be able to keep it clean herself without worrying about Sebastian to look at it. Aduin came close to her then, and she gave him a triumphant grin and a lick to the cheek.
There wasn't long before the copper female took a place next to Val, shoulders touching but clearly uninterested in anything but the prey before her. A mental note was made to bring back something for her mother, but right now the meat in her shrunken belly felt heavenly. Her lemon eyes swept from each creature gathered, giving a thankful and victorious look to those who met her eyes, and her tail fanned happily behind her.

Last post for me, Val's out!

The leader's kept their wolves in check and a silence fell over the group as they gathered round their carcasses. Valtyr would eat and eat and eat until his belly could hold no more. Round like an engorged tick, the firefoot would tear off one more slab of meat before heading back to the Fen to store it for later.