Redsand Canyon it's hell to where you go

Diaspora's TM thread (but AW) - these tags are for reference *cackles as the entire pack is tagged* @Stigmata @Mahler @Takiyok @Finch @Redshank @Ketzia @Piper @Damien @Nocturnal @Aries @Sterling @Vonn @Winterbourne

the elk herd that stigmata had first showed thorn on the summit of sunspire's ranges had dispersed onwards, ever in search of grass under the tundra's frozen expanse. the snow they traversed through had been sullied by hoof and manure, and a tan ribbon of mud and slough cut through pristine snowpack, making their trail easy for all to follow.

thorn noted he was not alone as he followed; crows overhead chattered, and occasionally he caught sight of roving coyotes too. like him, they followed the migratory herd of elk - hoping no doubt, that he would be the ticket to their next meal.

it seemed the flat plateau just beyond the mountain's rough shoulders housed most of the herd; thorn saw their bodies milling under tall arches of red -- a flaring contrast to the white snow that lurked beneath their stony arms. finding a hilled vantage in which to observe the herd, thorn rested -- his gaze turned to a pair of stragglers he had noticed earlier in the day.

thorn was a wolf she hadn't gotten the pleasure of knowing all too well. of course, she wanted to change that, figuring it wouldn't hurt to join him on his journey. scenting the air and tracking his scent leads her to a muddle of snow, hoofprints, fur... a disaster, really. snow was so gorgeous freshly fallen; a blanket covering the land, sparkling under the sunlight, though everything that is beautiful eventually breaks. black-winged birds caw in the dead trees, looking to scavenge already ravaged animals like the opportunists they are.

thorn's scent grows stronger in her senses, as well as the scents of many other animals: elk, crows, coyotes... there were many things here, resulting in her being hesitant about the territory itself. the elk would be a good score, though if they were to stay here its likely the ungulates would leave sooner rather than later. coyotes could be killed, but they were flighty. a few coyotes isn't enough to feed a whole pack, especially with the scavengers afoot. her body lowers to the ground a bit as she spots thorn in the distance. wordlessly, the fae prowls up to him as he keeps a hawk's eye on the elk below.
maybe a quick kill wouldn't be bad, despite her intial hesitance of the new land.

diaspora prospered. the kapitän ended his tight patrol by gathering strands of scent left by thorn and finch, and followed them into the snowy ridges. a herd, moving in search of greenery, not unlike the one that he and stigmata had hunted among their first night together as kill-brothers.
silently warmed by the memory, the fragrance of elk focused the gargoyle, and at length he came upon the gilded she-wolf and her shadowed companion. standing off some ways, he too trained his eyes upon the beasts, searching for weakness in their ranks, though this time he would leave the lead to another of diaspora's finest.

Taki had caught the scent of the herd as well, and she began to follow their trail through the snow, noticing each packmate's addition to the scent trail as she tracked the elk into the canyon. She followed the layered rock wall, her white coat standing out against the red much like the snow on the ground. She realized then that she stuck out like sore thumb against the colors here, which would make her the worst candidate for leading a hunt in this part of the mountains. She could come in after an ambush and help finish the job, sure, but it would be more difficult for her to hide anywhere, and the thought made her a little uneasy.  

She found where the others had perched to watch the herd graze on the plateau in the distance. A shaded spot made by a divot carved out in a taller part of the lined walls caught her attention, and she quietly padded to it and sat down, fiery gaze picking out Mahler, Finch, and Thorn before resting on the herd.

in time he was joined by packmates; first, finch rose from the snowpack, quiet as she prowled towards him. then mahler - stony and apprising as he glanced over the herd for any stragglers. finally, takiyok closed their guard, sitting watch not so far across the prairie.

he hailed each of them with a flick of his tail and rose, moving in an elegant trot along the hardened snow. the ground gave way to plains and he was easily visible as he trailed the herd. they took note of him, swinging their broad heads towards him and lowing deep -- thorn skirted the fringes, hungrily eyeing each limb as he went by.

there were no stragglers; the pair he had seen earlier were thick in the herd, and indivisible. it would be a tremendous waste of energy to pursue hale creatures, and elk of all things could kill wolves easily in the hunt. his gaze flickered to mahler first, then finch and takiyok -- as if to quietly infer he did not believe a meal was possible.

it wasn't long before another joined. as a shadow, mahler snuck onto the scene along with the pair. silently observing the herd, watching, waiting. takiyok's spirit-like form joined shortly after, settling near the rest. with thorn's motion, finch followed; trotting amongst the mountains as she kept a sharp eye on the hred below. heads turned towards the party as bellows escaped the large ungulates, aware of the presence of the nearby predators. but still, they did not strike.

her anxiety heightened-- as she had thought would happen, the area was far too open. they were too exposed in the moment, it would be nearly impossible to strike a meal out of one of them. the herd was strong in numbers and sound in condition: there were no injured, no sick young, no older elk, ready to keel over. sihlouettes of birds caw in the dead canopies of the territory, breaking the silence of the moment with their eerie calls. she notices thorn's gaze shoot towards the group-- finch nodded her head in agreement, it would be far too risky to attack one of these animals. there was barely a chance of a successful hunt here.

mahler caught the shift of thorn's eyes, and glanced to finch, then takiyok. the beasts here were far too strong to invite the teeth of wolves; it was more likely that one of them would be injured than it was diaspora would make a kill today. content to move on, the man backed from the ridgeline somewhat, waiting for the hunt leader to gather them somewhere else for a chase.

I'm terrible and didn't realize it was my turn here either. Very sorry!

The four of them watched the herd quietly for an uncertain amount of time; she was concentrating too hard on the beasts to really pay attention to the passing of time. She saw no good opportunity even for the four of them to be successful here. It seemed Thorn had come to the same assumption as he turned to look at Mahler and then to Finch and herself, his decision clear in his gaze. Taki nodded her agreement before rising to her feet. She was ready to move with her packmates and hopefully find somewhere they could better put their combined efforts to good use.

no word was spoken, but an agreement rifled among them. this was not the place.

rising with a grunt, thorn met the gaze of each of his comrades in brief agreement, and then the band rose and made back for arrow lake. they would inform stigmata of their discovery, and like as not, would not settle among the canyon.