Hoshor Plains Bison Hunt 1 [Hephs group]

Matteo was ready at Heph's beck and call, sprinting behind in a fluid stream of black and white at her signal. It was a relief to have Phox on his side. Though he did not know him personally, he trusted in the man's experience should he and Raindrop require it.

Skirting the wings, he became the party's eyes and ears as the others began to separate the old cow from the rest of the herd. The noise of their bellows rolled like stormclouds above the thunder of their hooves and he worked swiftly to snap at the heels of any that tried to stray, tail bannered and teeth bared. 

A cry from behind and his stomach plummeted, that was - "HEPH!" He screeched, wheeling around frantically, but alas he could not catch sight of her among the crowd of bodies. In a moment of lost focus, he failed to notice an erratic young bull breaking from the herd until horn connected with hip with the sickening sound of tearing flesh. White hot pain bloomed from the area of contact, and it was only by miracle of adrenaline that Matteo was able to see through the haze at the ungulate that threatened his packmates. 

Whale-eyed, he barked a warning to the rest of the vanguard as jaws gnashed in uncharacteristic fury, lunging for the panicked beast who quickly reared and fled back to the herd. There was no more margin for error or hesitation now - he could only pray Heph was okay.