Bramblepoint Don't play with your food

Denton stretched out his neck and lifted up on his hind legs in an effort to grab an apple off the tree. With a tug, it plucked easily from it's branch, along with a couple of others. They hit the ground with a soft thud, and Denton's mouth followed them, grabbing one and taking a bite. The juices coated his mouth, and he quickly swallowed. 

He felt rather lucky to have found this little snack haven. Apples were yummy, but his favorite were berries. But, some of those bushes had thorns and he didn't quite feel like dealing with that right now. So, he would continue to snack on the apples that fell from the tree.

She slipped from Moonspear's territory at the break of dawn on a quest to provide for both of Moonspear's newest broods. Whether it was for food or herbs, that would depend on which she came across first. Heading south east into the dense thicket of Bramblepoint, it soon became obvious the former was to be her goal for today.

While Lyra couldn't particularly be classed as a hunter, she added to their caches as needed and took opportunities as they arose. One such opportunity presented itself in the form of a middle-aged deer feasting upon the fallen fruits of the apple trees. With his back turned to her, the Ostrega stalked through the undergrowth as her blue eyes remained focused upon him.

She came to a stop as she tested the air, frowning as she detected no scent of disease or injury or weakness upon him. She wondered if any other more tempting targets were around. Surely he must be part of some herd?

Denton was blissfully unaware of the wolf that stalked him. While he knew he was at a disadvantage of not being in a herd, he was also strong and fit. He could easily fight off a single wolf, mostly because they didn't fall from the trees like mountain lions did. 

Finished with his apples, he turned to the left to give some attention to a berry bush. Oh, these were fresh. Thorns raked at his skin, but they didn't draw blood, so he continued on. His ears still listened for sounds, and every few moments, he would just pause to listen.

The deer seemed oblivious to her presence, either that or he was strangely unfazed by it. Unhurriedly, the creature turned from the apples and began to poke and prod his way around the berry bushes nearby as Lyra watched with interest. Oh, to be as witless and content as a mule deer, happily munching his way through life without a care in the world. Unfortunately for one of his family members, that idyllic life would soon be cut short.

Quietly, the female stalked forward a few steps to close the distance between herself and her target, before she broke into a sprint towards him with a sharp bark. Her aim was to startle the deer, to get him spooked and hopefully rushing back to the safety of the herd Lyra assumed was grazing nearby –– from there, she could pick out a weaker mark.

The buck was content to eat his heart out with berries until he was disturbed. The wolf came crashed through the bushes, and Denton whirled to face it, eyes wide with fer. Generally he would have turned and ran but the wolf was too close. If he turned, she would most likely go for his backside and sink her teeth into it. So, instinct told him to fight face to face in this close-quarter contact. 

He lowered his antlers and charged her, not caring whether or not he actually pierced her flesh. He simply wanted to her to cease her attempt to eat him and go away. He didn't realize that she had wanted him to run to his herd, which was far, far away, being protected by another male. All Denton needed to protect was himself. So, he swayed his antlers back and forth in an attempt to get the message across.