Dawnlark Plains Belly to the Rubble

Light snow offered little padding between Vagar's pads and a rocky terrain. No matter, taking a moment to rest weary feet on a patch of dead grass would remedy the discomfort. For a moment, the man wondered what his sisters were doing. His eyes nearly rolled out of his very head as he imagined they both probably found a pack by now. Vesi had probably already acquire a mate... or two.

But the only son of two loner parents felt no rush in picking a place or a person to latch himself to. Not yet. No, all he wanted in this moment was a meal. There was a rabbit not too far from his comfy patch of grass, and was up wind from him. Vagar stretched his body as he stood, looking like a large cat waking from a nap. There was little coverage in this area, although whatever brightness was offered through the overcast of the clouds was starting to fade. Night was coming. He wondered to himself how he would hide his large frame, even in the dimmed light. One could only belly crawl so low.

His father had spoken of these lands. Unforgiving. Unrelenting. He had used many more words, of course, in the true language of a chronicler and of an aged man beginning to slip into those final throes of life and it’s inevitable end. And yet he had returned here. Before Boaz had been born, of course. But mother said he had made amends with these Wilds. Settled the grief that had taken his heart for so many long and remorseful years. That he had died a man at peace and at rest in the quiet forgiveness of his God.

The day gave way to darkness by the time Boaz reached the open plain. A great expanse of white stained grey with the the dull glow of the setting sun. Tracks crisscrossed here and there, larger prey he couldn’t hunt alone, interspersed with rabbit and wolf. Boaz paused mid stride. Head bowed, nose filled with that knowledge that this one was near.

The tall wolf raised his head and saw the stranger upon the distant field. His eyes caught the rabbit a moment later. Amusement danced as a tight smile across his lips, and Boaz slipped forward. Watching the giant’s concentrated efforts and intending to grab after the rabbit himself if it slipped from the other man’s paws.

It was decided. The man would have to use a short burst of speed at the perfect moment if he were going to catch this prey with no coverage. The only problem is that moment would only make itself known… well, in the moment. Attention was pinned on the rabbit. The loner noted the sound of it scuffling amongst the dry grass, the way it had turned it’s back to him as he crept forward, and the smell of it. As Vagar took in the scent, he noticed the odor of another creature lingering as well. His gaze flickered from left to right as he lay still once more, belly still touching the cold earth. There on the opposite side of his prey stood a tall figure, watching him. 

Naive to the potential dangers of another hungry wolf in the area, Vagar turned his attention back to the rabbit and away from the observer. If he couldn’t land this kill, then his competition likely would. He continued forward and was amazed that the small creature was not aware of the peril that surrounded it. 

And then the moment came. Vagar wasn’t too far away once the rabbit got wise. It flicked its head upwards and before the man could make any sort of a plan, his instincts set him in pursuit. Unfortunately for both him and the rabbit, it took the path towards the onlooker and he was nowhere close to making the catch.

If the stranger noticed him, he sure didn't let that dampen his hunt. The stranger crawled forward - from what Boaz could see through the shadows - and - what do you know! He made decent headway, and Boaz relaxed, enjoying the show. Giant crawled through snow-heavy grass. Tiny ears flicked in the grey dusky light. The rabbit, naive to the creatures who hunted.

But only for a little while.

And only, now, to one.

Wolf and rabbit took off, and the rabbit veered in a beeline straight for Boaz. Now! The limber wolf leapt forward, and sought the rabbit with his teeth. But the rabbit was too far for even him to catch, he knew this, and instead of finding fur, he snapped at the air on an angle of where the rabbit ran. Terrifying the creature and forcing its paws back in the direction it had come - back towards the stranger.

Vagar slowed to a gallop as the prey neared the other hunter. He took a moment to contemplate what he would do if this stranger would be the one to make the kill. The man wasn’t so hungry that he would use his energy to rip the morsel out of another’s mouth. It would be better to save his strength for another kill.

But soon the rabbit was coming back towards him. The predators had closed in on both sides and Vagar noted the angle in which the other wolf was approaching. He could appreciate the other was a good hunter by how they directed the prey right towards him. There was little the prey could do to slip by. 

Muscles bunched and legs scrambled to anticipate the rabbit’s trajectory. He lunged only to catch the critter’s hint leg. It was enough for Vagar to lift the meal in the air and slam it on the rock below to knock it unconscious… if not kill it immediately. The hunter then slit the throat of the prey, and it was over. He looked up back at the wolf who helped trap the kill. “I’m not against sharing if you want some.” He offered, nosing the rabbit toward the stranger. It was only fair, the game would have gotten away if they were not their to redirect.