Barrow Fields the oblong box

set for yesterday, 1/22, and Round 2 will begin on 1/27 — @Prophet @Augur @New Snow @Ashlar @Masquerade @Redd @Relic @Lilia @Reki @Bobcat

the Rise is close enough to spot in the near distance, looming large above the surrounding territories, a comforting bulwark against the gray sky. she lifts her nose as if in salute, almost able to taste the air of her home.

but it's still tinged with ocean spray, here, and she'd forge on—but the game is afoot.

a small band of deer, clustered near a rocky outcrop on the edge of the fields, staying out of the wind while they nose through the snow, looking for the grass beneath. a couple does are pregnant, and she'd leave them be; she's more interested in the yearling buck, his antlers still small and the whites of his eyes showing clear and wild.

he's a nervous one, she thinks. one they could easily distract and cut away from the others. sure, letting him grow a bit longer would maybe benefit them in the long run—but with age would come wisdom and experience, and he'd grow larger and all the more dangerous.

better to cut him down now and feast, Avicus surmises, as she lays low within a small depression in the ground, dusted in snow, watching the little herd.

softly, furtively, she croons for her pack, summoning them to her side with a warning for quiet.

Not often is the Wealda's voice as alluring as this, but it prompts Lilia to smack her lips and seep forward into the dip where her leader lay in wait. Ears flattened, the spry young hunter lifted her head to peer past the turf, and out at the small herd of deer. More tempting to her is the fact that after they eat, they will go home- and reclaim their lands. She was eager to tell Reki of the pack's adventures, and to try and worry Ancelin out from wherever it was he'd disappeared to, as well. 

She remained motionless as she observed the animals. Having slain a buck just days ago, she would be content with the smaller animal. His antlers fewer, his body slim. The does might be slower, she thought- but would likely put up a hell of a fight, wanting not only to save their own lives but the ones they carried within them. 

She waited.

Although their aspirations had recently dovetailed, Masquerade was first and foremost a hunter. No matter how much they pined to return to the nearby rise, they immediately heeded the Wealda’s call to the hunt.

They crept up beside Avicus, eyes straight ahead to observe the herd. Masque selected a target, wondering if matched their mother’s. They angled their red face toward her, chin tucked and eyes lowered. No matter how much they grew in their confidence, they would always be a follower, not a leader.

New Snow would not be much use in this hunt. But she howled in turn and limped toward the group, prepared to be helpful in whatever way that she could. The cubs had grown much, and her own son among that number.

He was not yet to join the hunt in full at five months, but he could follow; New Snow would move with him this day to guide him, and show him. Her gaze sought out the form of her boy.

close to the sea.

close to home.

augur rolled his shoulders and came to crouch beside red woman, offering her a deferential lick to jawline.

the redtail hunters gathered. he followed the line of her indigo eyes to where she gazed at the shifting buck.

his yellow eyes sharpened.

Home was close. Tantalizing him as a great rise in the distance. Locking his eyes onto the landmark for a long moment, he let out a rumble of content. For now, there was business of a different sort to tend to. He was close when their Wealda summoned them.

On cue, he automatically went to her. Slinking silently over the earth. Eyes already rapt with interest on the small herd of deer. He swept past first New Snow, then Lilia, a fluttering contact from his tail all that was needed to affirm the bond between him and all Redtails.

Then on the opposite side of his Matriarch, he stationed himself, half a bodies length back. Always show her the deference she commanded. There he crouched, chained in place until he was set free on his mission.

bobcat, not old enough to join the hunt, but called to watch; to observe, lingers at mother's side. he worries over her limp, but does not let his gaze linger. mother is strong and she would get better, he is sure.

the itch to join in the fray is strong, but bobcat ignores the yearning thrum of his wildheart.

soon.

with little other choice, bobcat follows along; golden gaze watchful.

quick and quiet, her pack comes to her side. she assesses the state of each one, noting that New Snow in particular seemed a little worse for wear after the fight. the rest, though, hale enough.

help if you can, Avicus says to the woman, an' look ouhh' for our young wolvehh'.

as for the others. . .

well, it would certainly help to have more adults in the mix. her eyes continue to cut over the wolves assembled, mouth moving silently in contemplation.

i go, cuhh' him away, she decides. it's her young buck; she'd take the brunt of the risk. she looks at her daughters, then Lilia. follow. run him. . .over here.

to Augur, then, and burly Relic—and Bobcat, if he felt up to it. but her gaze rests mostly on her huntmaster, and on @Prophet, once he's arrived. waihh', an' bring him down. we'll help.

next round starts 1/30! PPing @Redd per starr in Discord — others jump in whenever/if you can!

Avicus' words to New Snow catch Lilia's ear and she smiles faintly. The two had hunted together enough now that she felt they made an excellent team. Almost playfully, she sent a brief look in the woman's direction, a knowing smile tugging at the corner of her lips. Yet again, it would be Lilia's pleasure to coordinate with New Snow. She'd very voluntarily make her hunting partner's task easier. Trailing along with her was her son. Silently, Lilia told herself to keep an eye out for him as well, just in case the hunt didn't go according to plan. A stray, terrified animal could sometimes be dangerous even to those shadowing the pack. 

When Avicus spoke to the group, Lilia watched for acknowledgement, and nodded as soon as her role was assigned. She would follow Avicus, and once the young buck was split, they would drive it away from the rest. It was a role that suited Lilia well. She enjoyed the chase. She made note of their location and surroundings, so she would know where they would have to drive the deer once it was on the move on its own. She gave a subtle click of her jaws to show her understanding.

augur heard, ears flicking though eyes did not move from the animal.

he fell into a more relaxed position that still lost little of its intensity.

red woman might now carry young. his instinct to protect her was being set ablaze.

and yet he did not second-guess her as their commander and ultimate hunter.

the children of the rise were old enough to do this again. each hunt demanded its own expertise. each specialty captured by their wolves was a strike against the strength of even a fresh hale creature.

a steady look for red woman. he would heed.

augur then reached once to new snow, bumping head to hers before he turned back to the hunt.

The mention of the pack’s young broke into Masque’s otherwise steady concentration on the potential targets as the others gathered. Their teeth clicked as they glanced at New Snow, wondering if the woman had designs on the role of a sitter. More likely, Avicus asked this of her due to her injury and, besides, Bobcat was her son.

Soon, the Wealda began laying out the game plan. Masque listened, surprised when their mother chose the young buck. It did not match their own selection, though the Toweard didn’t think twice of it. They bobbed their head in acknowledgement of the leader’s choice and strategy, ready to do her bidding.

New Snow looks toward Wolverine, feeling her gaze. Her tail waves behind her, sensing the energy of the hunt with their own gained chumminess. It brushes against the son of Red Woman as he moves past, and her eyes remain bright. That gaze of hers turns to her son, nosing him gently; Red Woman speaks to her, and she looks to her son. She wondered if he could understand all of the things that she and her man did not.

But New Snow could garner what was needed from her. And as her man approached, New Snow rumbled warmly toward him, pressing her head against his in turn. She sighed happily, and then looked to her son.

The hunter loosed several soft whuffs; we keep to the rear. They would watch and follow today.

she cuts her gaze to Redd, Masquerade and Lilia. now, her eyes read.

they set off, a rangy quartet, slipping quietly through cushioning snow. her vision is trained on that nervous young buck, and she sees him start a bit at a sudden sound, the whites of his eyes showing.

now, she breathes, just loud enough for the others to hear.

the wolves cut into the herd, beginning to slice the youth away from the others. bleats and cries rise up in the air, and Avicus herself moves into the space between the buck and his herd, nipping insistently at his rear right haunch.

he kicks, but it misses her, then takes off. she squeezes in tight next to his side, trying to guide him toward the waiting wolves around the bend.

next round 2/3

New Snow skippable during hunt itself, but if needed please throw me a tag and I will hop back in! She will be observing/teaching Bobcat

New Snow spoke in the shared way of their family with Bobcat when she must. Explained what all transpired. What was not understood she would show him in gentle practice, employing things the same way the pack would to get him to see. But for the majority of this time, there would be silence as they too pursued a healthy distance away as to not intervene and be obstacles within this hunt.

Lilia kept Avicus in the fringe of her vision's focus, though she kept her eyes trained on the animals ahead. She was ready to go as soon as the word was spoken, and pattered forth with her body held low so that she and the others might gain ground on the herd before pushing it into motion. A threshold was reached; and she saw the animals lift their heads and look in the direction of the oncoming danger. A short blast of breath came from one of them- the buck they had targeted, as a warning for the others. 

Too late, she thought, with a grin that spread as her pace accelerated. The herd parts, pierced by the threat they posed. Avicus made the first contact with the buck, and when it kicked out at the Wealda, Lilia was quick to move in, taking a slightly wider arch just as Avicus pressed herself closer to the deer. It would move away from her, and from Lilia as well, who moved in like a shepherding dog, targeting the deer's shoulder with her keen gaze. She knew by now that herd animals moved away from pressure- and she would keep that pressure applied.

“Now,” Avicus commanded and Masquerade surged forth.

This wasn’t like the smaller hunt with the ragged horse. This time, they were only meant to follow the target, running him toward the trap set ahead. Masque would’ve liked to sink their teeth into the buck—they would never forget what it was like, tearing that tender horseflesh—but they obeyed their Wealda’s orders.

They did notice Avicus nipping at his heels and with a burst of speed, snapped at one of his hind legs as well. This time, they missed. Their teeth slammed shut and they fell back, pacing themselves alongside the other chasers to herd the buck where they wanted him.

With their instructions given and split into two teams, he understood perfectly what was to be done. He had been in this scenario many a time before. Split the target away from the safety of the group and drive it into a trap. Only, the exact same play write never went the same way twice.

While his Wealda and her team broke ahead after the buck, he hung back. Knowing not to charge running just yet. His eyes followed them and their prey. Then down to where the catch net should be. He combed his way over the area, searching for a suitable position in which to anchor himself. Settling on the left outer rim, he crouched, waiting for their moment.

new snow would keep their son safe.

red woman, blood star, thorn caller, and wolverine sped toward their quarry.

augur glanced at the boy, the only child of red woman's unnamed by the hunt leader.

interesting. today the young hunter would earn his second.

the younger moved aside. augur stayed as he was. he glanced to bobcat and then back to the wolves driving the prey.

together, Avicus and the young ladies drive the buck hard toward the waiting, brute-force wolves. her heart is coming fast with the chase, breath, too, but she perseveres. 

icy wind, whistling by her ears;

she takes a shot and leaps, ripping with teeth at the deer's ribs. she tastes blood. it cries out and kicks, and again, she dodges a certain paralyzing blow, shuddering all over at tempting fate and death altogether.

the rest of the pack lies in wait nearby.

she continues to drive forward, eyes slitted and burning upon her target.

next round 2/7!

The stag turned, supple under their fencing jaws. Lilia would cover one flank, to make sure that it did not break for an exit to one side, and relied on her packmates to do the same. A strike by her leader sent the buck staggering in her direction, poorly balanced as it struck out with a hoof. Lilia snarled and snapped at its fetlocks, guiding it on its path and offering more penalties should it stray. 

She knew their packmates loomed ahead, hidden still, but ready to snap into motion once the buck came within range.

It seemed like they ran for ages, though Masquerade did not flag. They felt like they could run for miles, just like this, keeping pace with their quarry. But they knew it wouldn’t be quite that far before the other hunters closed in on the deer like the jaws of a steel trap.

Avicus lunged at the buck again, perhaps growing impatient. Masque was close enough to feel the rush of air as his leg struck out. Their ears pinned to their skull as they fell back to avoid being clobbered in the head. Luckily the Wealda managed to evade it too.

For a few seconds, they trailed behind. Then Masquerade kicked into high gear for the final push, snarling under their breath as they closed in on the buck again.

i did a dice roll for my own injuries and got 41/100 :o @Prophet @Augur @Masquerade @Lilia @Relic @Redd

the buck is waffling, even as they drive him forward. he meanders even at the cutting blows of Masque and Lilia. he will not meet the waiting fangs of their brute force.

she has no choice.

Avicus picks up her pace and leaps, seizing the throat of the elk;

she hangs on, blood spurting, catching the blows of its hooves as it runs, feeling the earth stir and rise and fall beneath her as she's dragged.

for fifteen or so strides she clings and finally releases, stumbling back, feeling her ribs bruised and pummeled and—

oh, she shouldn't have taken the risk to the babes. . .

her mouth is full of blood. her heart is full of lust.

ahhh sorry for missing last round!

the hunt went sour and that was when augur broke his post.

he soared down the small distance left and grabbed viciously for the shoulder of the animal, chuffing roughly for the unnamed boy to follow.

the blood shed by red woman flowed down into his eyes. his teeth climbed higher toward the throat, great weight slowing the animal.

the sooner it ended, the sooner he might see that his leader was not severely harmed.

Blood eyes fixed on the hunt, of Wealda, his sisters and Lilia. Nipping and snapping at the buck, driving it onwards and away from the herd. He was ready to take his role. What he was not ready for, was when his mother was felled. Dragged and kicked, tossed down into the dirt.

Then he saw the blood. Not of their quarry, but of his Wealda. The world blurred out around him as he charged forward, towards the antlered beast. He didn't hear the roar that escaped his burning lungs. All but hurling himself at the male, brandished teeth clamped down around the side of it's neck. Perhaps nicking the jugular, if he were so lucky.

Blood splattered the white of his fire kissed face, while the animal bellowed. It stumbled again and Relic was relentless, thrashing his head from side to side. Angry red eyes boring holes into the black of his victim. Feeding off it's terror and pain. He was less about the hunt now, and more so, revenge.

Before they caught up again, Avicus lunged at the buck’s throat. Masquerade inhaled sharply, feeling a jolt of confusion about their role in this hunt. Were they not meant only to chase it toward the remaining hunters? The bewilderment only grew exponentially when the buck effectively trampled the Wealda.

Masque rushed to their mother. Their ears picked up the noises as the rest of the pack finished the buck, though they did not look anywhere but at Avicus. Their eyes were full of concern and questions, their throat rippling with a whine. Why had she done that? Would she be alright?