Tuktu Weir and these three men made a solemn vow

the game was afoot. aditya caught the man's signal, gave him a little soft smile of his own, and then set off toward the old doe at a brisk trot. the other deer gave cries of alarm at the sight of him, and she, too, pivoted to follow. but she was slower than the rest of the group, and adi was able to nip at her heels, guide her elsewhere.

like a sheepdog, he herded her closer to his newfound hunting partner, running with his nose just shy of her right rear flank. any closer and he risked concussion from one of those sharp hooves.

she was struggling, though; she could not gain much purchase on the deep snow. it bogged her down, and just as aditya caught the flash of the other wolf's eyes nearby, she stumbled, sending ice flying. he lunged forward, hoping to seize a foreleg and drag her further down.

now, adi commanded, though he likely didn't have to—any hunter with half a brain knew the deer's time was up.