Stone Circle We're Wide Awake Now

maybe hunting thread?

Days came and turned to weeks. It had been a little over a month now since his brother's disappearance and West still neared the borders searching for something, anything that might hint to his return. Was he even— no, he couldn't allow himself to think like that. The woodland boy shook his head before turning his emerald gaze back to the borders.

A grumble in his stomach distracted him further as he looked back in the direction of the stones. It seemed everyone was getting thinner lately, but that was no real surprise with the bison gone. Even he had felt the effects despite his parents' efforts to quell his stomach, but unlike those who had thinned enough to show, West simply evened out. Perhaps it was just his child fat balancing, but he wouldn't know that.

Perhaps he could help his parents in return-- he still wasn't much of a hunter since usually, it was his parents who brought food, but it couldn't hurt to try right? Even if that meant moving past the borders...his parents would be happy to have the meal right? With one final glance back he'd creep further than he had ever before, his ears swiveling for any sound.

Valette tried to keep an overview but their territory was wrecked. She tried to map everything that changed and see how they could use it to their advantage. That was when she spotted her son. Her heart melted as she noticed that he was hunting. She was not sure what he was hunting but she approached him quietly but at an angle so he could see her approach. Once she was close to him in a crouch she asked. "What are we trying to hunt?," she asked him. To her everything could be a lesson. Now the stakes were higher than ever. She looked at her son with trust in her eyes. She knew that he was capable of making a plan of execution.

It was almost no surprise that his mother found him so quickly. She was always right behind him no matter how hard he tried to sneak off, but with Clay's disappearance and Leta's attack when they were young it really should be expected. An ear swiveled towards his mom as she approached, expecting an earful for running off, but to his surprise, she seemed to want to join him. You aren't mad? Mossy eyes jumped to Valette's in awe, he had never been in charge before.

I'm not sure yet— I thought I saw that bush move, maybe a rabbit? The woodland boy turned his attention back towards the woods, his body remained crouched and still as he had seen Valette do in the past. He wanted to catch something for his family, maybe even make his mother proud, but now that she was here it was almost intimidating. After all, she was probably the best hunter in the pack. On the other hand, if he gained her praise it would be soooo worth it.

Valette frowned at her boy's first reaction. Why would she be mad. "Mad? Why would I? I am proud of you, Westk for helping feeding this family," she spoke to him and stepped closer for a brief nuzzle. She didn't want to over do it. Clay didn't seem to like any positive feedback so she had been careful with the other boys not to be too warm and loving that seemed to work with all her girls.

"Okay, lets see if we can find evidence of a rabbit. Do you see any tracks? Any branches that have been nibbled on? Poop?," she asked. She quickly scanned what was before her if she could sense anything so she could point it out if he would miss it. "Stay open minded, maybe it is something else," she spoke to him softly.

Sorry for the wait finals and vacation happened asdfdsf

West pressed into the touch happy to have the reassurance. The boy's tail wagged slowly as he returned the affection with a few licks under his mother's jaw before looking back to the land around them. Evidence of rabbit... his eyes scanned the ground, aware of almost every movement around him. It took him some squinting as he tried to keep his focus on the hunt, but eventually, he'd point with his muzzle to some small prints a short distance ahead.

There! The woodland boy moved forward, doing his best to stay light on his toes as he sniffed along the ground until the tracks grew fresher. I think it might have headed towards the river. Maybe it was thirsty?

Valette watched him work, when the young male called out 'there' she instantly returned it with a hush that he shouldn't call it out so loudly. The rabbit might hear and scatter off back to its burrow. "Follow to see if you are right then." she whispered back to him. Valette scanned the signs. It was not only footprints but hair or any other matter as well.

"Try to see if the bramble or any other vegetation has nibble marks from the rabbit,' she added softly to give him a few tips, often that would lead to droppings or popular locations that rabbits often frequented.

Ears were quick to flatten against his skull as Valette pointed out his mistake. He was too easily excited and right now he couldn't let that slip up cost them a meal. Sorry— His eyes scanned the growth near the prints as he slinked forward. Soon enough he would see the small nibbles leading towards the river. Crouching down, West signaled back. It appeared that the rabbit might be in the area still. Now all he needed was to hone in on the creature.

Valette raised her brow. "No need to be sorry, you are learning," she encouraged him. She wouldn't want him to keep apologizing for every wrong decision. From his mistakes he would learn and become a better hunter. She let him work out the puzzle the rabbit laid out for him. She would stay back a bit to let West do most of the tracking. The rabbit might be by the river but the area was also open and it would be unlikely that the rabbit would feel safe. She wondered if he would check under the bushes.

The boy slinked forward, his body close to the ground as he scanned the surrounding area. The riverbank was empty, but the scent was still fresh. It was entirely possible the rabbit had already heard him coming too and took to hiding. Based on the prints he would turn his attention to some growth under a tree and slink forward.

It wouldn't take long for the rabbit to dash out of hiding as he neared, sending the boy into a chase. Lucky for him he was also decently fast (as long as the chase didn't last too long). It would take a few turns as the rabbit dodge around trees before West had the chance to lunge, his weight easily pinning the creature down as he finished it.

With an eager tail wag, the woodland boy stepped back, scooping up the kill to take to his mother. Coming to a skid in front of Valette, West would drop the rabbit to eager to actually stand still as he stepped excitedly in place. Look— Look mom I caught it!

Valette watched expecting the rabbit to come out soon. It must be hiding close. The female quirked up her lips as she watched her son go to work. When the prey animal came out, she didn't expect West was ready for it, however, he did put in the chase. The female watched, trying to be a back up for if the rabbit came her way. It didn't.

West managed to capture the rabbit. Valette lifted her head proudly and wagged. "Good job!," she praised with a smile on her lips. He did good work, had been quick on his paws and persistent enough to follow through. West was really a hunter like her. "What else do you think you could have done?," she asked, wondering if he knew the bonus points.

His mother's praise was not without questions, much like most of his lessons. Valette always like to pick their brains, but he couldn't help but feel like he was put on the spot. Uh... What else? What else was there...did he miss something?

West recalled his voice being too loud, and he was quick to assume where the rabbit was purely off the scent and noise. Maybe he was supposed to see something else, Valette mentioned signs of the rabbit in the area. Look more at the environment? I went a lot off instinct instead of waiting around.

Valette nodded slowly. West's style was kind of brash. But it had worked and each wolf had their own style. "That is one of it, but if it doesn't suit you then you can use any way you want to. As long as it is effective," Valette spoke. She then smiled at her son.

"You had me," she then revealed. "If you are with more wolves, even with rabbits that can be to your advantage," she explained. "Next time, if you lead a hunt, be more than welcome to use all the skills you have to be successful. After all every failed hunt is energy wasted," she spoke to her son. "But those are only details. You did very well."

last post from me!

Maybe he had been a bit too direct, but in the end West still had the rabbit and that's all that really mattered. He wasn't fully aware of how to use another's presence to hunt a rabbit, but it was something he could try later. Overall he was just happy to have his mother's praise. The sunny boy grinned as he scooped up the fallen rabbit and with a muffled voice would respond I'm gannf go finf anathfer! Before racing off to deposit the kill in a cache and look around for any other morsels.