Redtail Rise diddling

backdated about 10 days, before Arielle's kids come

lookh aff'er 'em, pleahh'? she instructs @Ashlar, leaving him in charge of her rapidly growing brood. for rapidly growing they are, but not enough to leave alone—and she resents it, a little.

as she takes off from the den, she notes that Arielle's time is drawing near and that the healer may be drawn away at any moment. but Avicus is selfish, and she needs time to herself. she needs the chase, the hunt; she needs blood and the wind in her ears.

she's a red streak across the open land, revving up to full speed.

plenty of small game in the forest. she enters the trees, the nearby babble of the stream tilting her ears. she heads that way—perhaps fishing?

anything, anything beyond nursing.

she is more than over being a host to parasites, as much as she adores what they are and what they'll become.

From a higher vantage, Aventus spied a red wolf streaking toward the forest. He had yet to meet many of his sister's subordinates, having spent the bulk of his time hunting and gathering for Arielle leading up to her inevitable labour, but he felt certain there was only one wolf so red as that.

Aventus sprang into action, moving down into the trees to merge into her path. Avicus was ahead, but Aventus made a sound in his throat to announce his presence. There was a lot they could talk about, but he recognized the purposeful lines of her stance and said nothing. She was hunting.

He fell in step, peering at her for further instruction. When was the last time they had worked together? Aventus could not recall.

a dark shadow belies her brother's presence, and she turns slightly, giving him a nod of welcome. Aven, she intones—the only part of his name her tongue still has claim to. she allows him to stay by her side, and they prowl through the woods—

a pair of panthers, one red, one black.

god, wouldn't Merrick be proud?

hunhh', Avicus explains, though probably with no need to do so. he'll know the look of a bored and hungry wolf. she cants her muzzle toward the trees. 'kquirrel? rabbihh'? or. . .

the deer are on the plains.

her nostrils flare, seeking answers.

Astara, too. They had always been her pair of hunters, nightstalkers, death come on four legs. Merrick had seen them as supplicants to his addled religion — Aventus had long played into that, and long grown weary of it — but it was Astara who strove to craft them each into finely honed blades.

Truly Melonii, and not for the first time did Aventus consider dropping Bearclaw from that name.

He kept his head low between smoothly rolling shoulders, both so he could smell the trails below and to show Avicus the proper amount of respect. She suggested a few options. It took him a moment to parse her meaning; she had always been a little guttural and succinct, but he didn't think he would ever grow accustomed to her gargling manner of speaking with part of her tongue removed.

Bigger? he asked, swiveling his head upward to sniff the breeze. There were deer, yes, but also foxes, porcupines, perhaps a rare badger or wolverine. He was game for anything. Whatever doubts and insecurities Aventus might harbor in his mind regarding his sister, he remembered their ability to work together when they were younger. They still had the capability, he believed.

A deer might not be so hard for them.

bigger?

her eyes swivel his way, a flash of indigo. whah'ever we findh', she responds, already tasting blood. she stalks deeper into the trees.

there's undoubtedly a pungent smell she's following, and she feels her shadowy brother on her heels. it feels right. she hadn't meditated much on their reunion since he had arrived with his mate, and had spent so much time fighting that connection. . .

but it is right.

a snort breaks the air, and she pauses, halting upon forest floor. her tail lifts, slowing Aventus as well. it's big game, an ungulate.

she catches sight of a broad face and staring dark eyes within the brush. elkh, she breathes. she turns, looking back at her brother. her heart throbs in her chest, pounding against her breastbone. can they do this? 

i threw it into a randomizer and it spit out elk, so. . .let's do this? lol feel free to roll for failure or success

I rolled failure!

Silence stretched between them then. Avicus led. Aventus followed. This felt right, too, as if it should have always been this way, and with his pride buried in Bearclaw Valley, Aventus could admit even to himself that his self-proclaimed right to stand ahead of his sibling was only his ego, in the end. She had always been the better Melonii, and he had always been something of a fraud.

The scent is familiar in his nose, but he couldn't place it beyond hooves and antlers until Avicus put a name to it. He felt a flicker of doubt when she did. Elk were colossal creatures, dangerous, capable. They were nowhere near as flighty as their smaller deer cousins. One or both of them could die if they went after an elk without aid.

But their family was nothing if not bold. Thrill seeking was in their blood. After a beat, Aventus nodded once. In and out, he murmured. If they could not seize an advantage quickly, they could not risk it further. They both had responsibilities outside themselves.

probably more realistic that way :')

in and out. she nods, once, a brusque but solemn gesture in reply. she knows deep down that they're not enough for this game. 

but with mouths to feed, they ought to try.

lehh' corner ihh', Avicus breathes. it's a young male elk; she sees the antlers within the trees and knows they could do serious damage to the pair of them. she tips her head to the left. i go 'hhat way, you go. . . she trails off and stares the opposite direction. an' go on my call.

perhaps they could squeeze him off. startle him enough to falter in the brush.

once she has confirmation from her brother, she slips away. waits until she sees Aventus's silver gaze glint in the dim forest light, across from her, and then gives a deep, hoarse chuff in command.

Pincer tactic. It was the best chance they had. A single wolf could chase an elk across miles of territory, worrying its hind end and bleeding it dry, but it took an immense amount of time and effort. More than they could afford to give. If they came from both sides, drove it into the thicker trees where it couldn't maneuver, perhaps they could do enough damage to make it fall.

Aventus nodded and stalked off, melting with ease into the shadows of the undergrowth. If he had applied himself from a younger age, he would be a phenomenal hunter now. Alas, his stealth had always been used to eavesdrop and watch others, with the comfort of a pack to secure food, and only now was he learning the more practical uses for it.

When he was in position, he could no longer see his sister, but knew she was out there with the elk pinned in her sights. He released a slow, silent breath and flexed his toes, preparing to move the second she gave the signal.

she chuffs again, and nods, finding his gaze. consider signal given.

with any luck, they'll come upon the elk like pincers, pinning it between their own respective strengths. except he's canny, and can maneuver, and she finds that the young bull might well just slip between their metaphorical fingers.

Avicus lunges for its throat, hoping to end this now.

perhaps the shadow will do the same.

her heart beats hard and fast against her ribs.

the tree trunks whistle by, silent observers of this deadly dance.

I'm pressing reset and wrapping almost all my current threads, I hope this abrupt ending is okay. <3

For a second, it seemed they had the bull in the bag.

Then the young elk wheeled in a direction Aventus wasn't expecting. He felt his jaw wrenched painfully and had no choice but to relinquish his hold on its flank. With only Avicus for an anchor, the bull tore away. The wolves scrambled after it, but even with the trees, the gap between predator and prey only widened.

There was no sense wasting their energy on an impossible pursuit. As soon as it broke the treeline, it would be long gone. Aventus slammed on the brakes, panting, and watched the elk gallop away. When he caught his breath, he flagged down his sister and returned with her to the trees. They would try their luck again, this time on smaller, more manageable targets, until they secured food for the pups and caches alike.