Shadow Mountain good morning new zealand

There was pack scent wafting from the nearby valley and mountains. He'd smelled it as he'd passed into the, hopefully, safe and unclaimed, dulled peaks. He was being forced to walk around them and part of him was the slightest bit annoyed at his path being redirected, even though the packs had done nothing but exist. He was still conflicted about joining them, unsure if he'd belong there or feel suffocated by the hierarchy. There was a time when that was all he wanted but he'd gotten a bit older, less flexible. 

Lushness surrounded him - greenery, trees, and the sounds of nature. It was soothing as he stalked low, nose to the ground. The day was beautiful and perfect for a quick hunt. Small game seemed to bound all around him only an hour ago but now that he was actively seeking them, they were a little more reserved. 

Regardless, he did eventually spot a rabbit nibbling spring grass.

He was good at hunting alone. He would not have survived if he could not do something so simple. Well...he had eventually caught on, at least, he thought as he remembered going hungry many times. Maybe he wasn't as good as he thought he was and if he kept inflating his skills, he would go hungry again. Diaval pushed the thoughts away, stalking as close as he dared before lunging forward.

The chase was brief, the rabbit so distracted it almost forgot to run. Teeth sank easily into soft flesh and then, suddenly, the ground beneath him shifted. His jaws dropped their catch in favor of a sharp yelp as he slid and then tumbled, rocks crumbling underneath his paws. He rolled as he flailed in an attempt to stop himself. Eventually, his claws found purchase in the rock and he slid a few more inches before finally coming to a stop, several feet from where he had fallen. His kill lay momentarily forgotten as he gingerly raised himself to his feet and began testing his body for injuries.