The Pursuit [eastern pack/open]

[Xane;;]

The ground shook underneath the weight of the beasts that thundered across it, their hooves striking a battle cry against the six wolves that sought to shed their blood. Twenty-one bison fled across the valley's grassy floor, and Thor’s pack leapt after them, eager to prove their worth in their first pack hunt.
Three new wolves had joined not long after Naavren’s acceptance, two females and one male. Now the two females, Jaelyn and Lakota, joined Sira as she moved ahead and sought to find the easiest target and split it from the herd. Thor, Naavren, and the fresh male named Dax hung back to let the lighter, faster females do the running.

Thor loped along a sloping ridge, keeping up with the bisons’ progress below and ready to join the hunt as soon as the she-wolves needed some extra muscle. Watching the action below, he listened to the bison bellow as the females darted to and fro around them. This was the eastern pack’s first true hunt together, and the stakes were high. Bison were ten times as powerful as a single wolf, and their kicks could be deadly. This is where the adults are separated from the pups, Thor thought. Indeed, he would be watching how each individual performed. Today he would learn how much experience and skill each had, as well as how they worked as a team.

[trenton]

Lakotas large black paws thundered against the ground as she ran alongside her packmates, her shorter legs working twice as hard to maintain the pace. Her determined unblinking orange eyes stared down the bison herd. If looks could kill, Lakota would easily be the best hunter Lamar Valley had ever seen. She slowed down, hanging back behind the rest of the females she ran with. She needed to save her energy for when the hunt began, for now, she would stalk the bison through the long grasses, and help select the weakest bison.

She lowered herself down into a crouch, making sure not to let her distinguishable black fur rise above the camouflage of the grass. The distance from her and the other females was respectable, and she went to move parallel to them. It would be pointless to go around to catch up, better to just meet up at a specific bison. Lakota scanned for Thor and the males, noting their position as well.

She flicked her pointed black ears repeatedly a few dozen times, trying to ease the stiff muscles. Lakotas sense of sight would be the main factor in this hunt, but she still needed to be able to listen for her packs calls. She swiveled her ears, listening for them now.

[-sira-]

Sira ran in front of the other females. Adrenalin rushes as they ran up behind beasts. A smile crept across her face. She loved hunting with the pack. Although it bothered her how quick the pack grew. She was used to it just being her and Thor. "why have I been having these thoughts? This is ridiculous"' she furiously yelled in her head she slowed down slightly, but caught herself. She quickly made her way to the front of the females. Deciding itwould be best for her to not think about it at this moment, she surveyed the soon to be prey. Wondering which would be the unlucky winner.

He was new, but he made sure he could make his way into the pack with ease. Hunting was the perfect opportunity, especially when they all hunted together. He stood back with the other males. With the omega, naavern. And Thor the alpha. He would do anything to make his acceptance quick, he had to prove himself. But having to stay back as the females did the picking, made him upset. But he couldn't complain...

 

[trenton]

Lakota narrowed her bright orange eyes, feeling a fresh burst of energy and adrenaline. She raced forward, keeping low to the ground. Her massive shoulders were hard at work, rippling under her glossy black coat that flowed with the wind as she ran. Her paws softly thumped against the ground. She made her destination two bison at the back of the group that seemed to have trouble keeping up. Using her powerful hind legs, she launched herself at the closer one, nipping its flank, testing the reaction. The bison kicked out, thankfully only brushing her tail.

Lakota looked over her shoulder, and noticed how off balance the bison looked when it lashed out. After a few moments of surveying the bison, she noticed a gash on its front legs. She smiled, and licked her lips, smelling the faint scent of the dried blood. She looked over at Sira, hoping for a returned gaze, and flicked her tail. This one was weak- but was it the weakest?

OOC: I read somewhere and saw a few videos about how when wolves hunt, they 'test' the prey by nipping it and thats how they find the weakest one... so this post and how Lakota hunts is acting on that;)

[remorsa]

A red blur followed behind Thor, also known as Naavren, he took his place behind Dax.  Even though he could easily outrun both of them with speed he took his place as an Omega.  He didn't mind it much, he was just glad he joined the pack.  This was his first actual hunt with a pack.  He never had a chance to go on his first hunt with his original pack before he ran off.  His orbs focused on the three females and waited for the signal to jump into the hunt.  He was glad that the guys had not gone first, he wouldn't of known what to do.  

By studying the slender females from the ridge above the Bisons he noticed that they were singling out the old, the young, and some who were straying behind in the heard.  So this is what they call a hunting party.  He had never seen a real hunt before, he has so much to learn. He knew this was a test for all the members of the pack to work together and bring down their official first kill, but some part of him deep inside still yearned to be a loner again. He would take this opportunity to his advantage and learn what he can from it.

Beside him he noticed Dax also analyses the females' hunting style.  Naavren could tell Dax had hunted before and it looked to him that they were both using this hunt as a way to finalize their place in the pack.  He watched Thor, the strong alpha who took him under his wing, looking at the females hunting techniecs.  He wondered if he could ever become that skilled at hunting.  Only time could tell him that.  He kept up with the wolves waiting patiently until they could rejoin the females and take out the designated bison.

[Xane;;]

{ooc; do you guys want me to wait for Sandtiger to post w/ Jaelyn or should we just pretend that she's there? o.O}

[Sandtiger]

*Sorry about not being here, stuck with a Cold. Here's Jaelyn now...*

Jaelyn turned a hard right as another hoof came flying at her, and it would hit her head directly had she not been quick enough to move. Her sharp, orange eyes were narrowed, taking an analytical view of things. The ones she had been trying out were all strong and health, not exactly prime prey, and bad showmanship for her. Than she turned her head for a brief moment toward the other two females, Sira and Lakota. She felt some slight resentment the males weren't over here helping, but she saw the reason why, and after getting her first glance of Thor she kept her mouth shut. Mostly. However, a she looked over at the two female,s she saw a slight signaling between Lakota to Sira. A small sly smile lighted the right side of her face, had they fund the weak straggler in the herd. Good for Lakota. And the rest of them. Running towards where Lakota was on red paws, her coat bristling slightly with the wind, just as another hoof was on her tail, she joined Lakota near the supposedly weakest bison. Bison was big prey, and dangerous.
She eyed Lakota with no particular emotion, but her eyes read clearly, Shall we as soon as Sira takes notice?

[trenton]

Lakota flicked her ears, and looked away, towards Sira's direction to wait for the female to start moving. Two wolves alone could never down a bison, and she wanted the betas approval on the bison she selected.

She parted her powerful silver jaws, and tasted the air, making sure there weren't any coyotes of bears nearby. Nothing was more annoying than another animal trying to get their paws on your kill. Her unblinking orange eyes flickered to the bison, keeping constant tabs on its location so when the rest of the pack arrived, locating it would be easy. The bison was a small, middle aged female, from what the scent told her. It got the wound a few days ago, which was a bit of a surprise to Lakota, that the female had managed to keep up with the rest of the herd up until now.

[Xane;;]

{ooc; Matrix, could you try to not post too much out of order, pwease? It makes posting more complicated. And that's okay, Sandtiger, it happens to the best of us!}

Thor saw the females pinpoint the prey of choice, a bison that faltered under their test. As they sought to separate the weaker bison from the herd, Thor gave a nod to Dax and Naavren behind him. It was time to close in.
Thor maintained his steady lope, flattening out just slightly so that each stride would take him farther. He barreled down the ridge, dipping into the flat ground that held the bison and the rest of the pack. Adrenaline surged through his veins, the familiar rush and joy of the hunt. Catching sight of the three she-wolves around the chosen bison, Thor leapt toward them. As he neared a shower of dust clods, thrown up by the bison, bounced off his fur. The sound from their pounding hooves made talking almost impossible, so it was time to use the oldest form of communication: body language.

The terrified bison that they had chosen clung close to the herd, and Thor had to find a way to separate it. An idea came to mind, and Thor took two great leaps before thrusting with his wings. After some effort he was airborne, and hovering a foot above the humped backs of the bison. Keeping his eye on their chosen one, Thor twisted his body and fly in an arched curve toward the prey. He hoped that the sight of a huge wolf-like bird coming at her would be enough to drive the bison to the left, away from the rest of the herd.

[-sira-]

When she noticed the bison had passed the test for finding the weakest link. Sire smiled. She turned her head towards Lakota and nodded. She had done a good to find the weak bison. And it had now become their target. She and the wolves began to move in. Their paws lightly glided across the plains.

As for Dax watching the females and beta. He watched Thor instead. As Thor would act on the decision the females did. There was no need to watch the whole pack as they worked together. He noticed a vision Thor was eyeing. And it was the one they chose for their prey.he wondered how they would separate it, but just as he started to worry, he saw Thor leap open. His wings came out to hold up his body. And just like that, he noticed the bison became nervous.

[Xane;;]

{ooc; calling Sandtiger and Matrix! =D And Remorsa, if she's there.}

[trenton]

{ooc: ... you just told me not to post out of order... and I got a pm from xane not to post so much as well...}

Lakota saw the approving nod from Sira, and was about to spring forward, but she saw Thors dark fur whisk past her. She stopped in her tracks, and held herself steady, to watch what her alpha planned to do. Using his wings, he flew between the selected bison and the herd, spooking it away from safety. She smiled. She was lucky her alpha was so intelligent.

Once the bison was separated, she burst forward, and her jaws snatched onto the bisons hindquarters, her claws scraping its back looking for some sort of grip

[Xane;;]

{ooc; I know, but we decided to move on in this thread 'cause Remorsa hasn't posted in a while.}

[Xane;;]

As Thor had hoped the chosen bison panicked and veered to the left, leaving a block of valuable space between it and the herd. Quickly Thor folded his wings and dipped down, then snapped them out to help cushion his drop to the ground. He made a rough but efficient landing, and in the process he blocked the bison from returning to the herd. Thor lunged forward into a run, anxious to keep up with the bison and ensure it did not return to safety in the mass of sweat, muscle, and hooves. Before he had fully folded his wings behind his back, a fear-stricken bison roared past and clipped the right one. Thor snarled, wincing in the pain that shot up his wing. Smacked off-balance, Thor slowed for a moment to regain his momentum. His wing was not permanently damaged, but it was strained, and might be sore for a few days. Nothing new to Thor, frankly; his wings were rather large and tended to get a good beating every now and then. Scars ran up and down the dark brown leather. Thor turned on the ignition in order to catch up to the bison. He saw that Lakota had already made a strike; good wolf she was. The bison floundered, trying to shake off the she-wolf, but in the process it stumbled. It's wounded leg was acting up. Thor leapt up to the bison's side and swung his clubbed tail with as much force as he could manage, pumping electricity down it as he did so. It crashed into the bison's haunches, and Thor felt the charge jump from him to the animal. The bison jerked at the unexpected and painful blow, its weight shifting precariously as it lost its balance again. WORD COUNT 364 NOTES Weee! I'm foregoing posting order so we can get some action around here. x) LYRICS Turn on, turn on the ignition Everybody Come on, come on and turn on the ignition - Ignition, TobyMac

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[trenton]

Tell Me Something I Don't Know;;

Hint zoomed through the long grasses, and approached the bison with caution. Once she detected a way to get to the bison with little chance of getting hit, she went for it. Her thin frame crashed into the bisons flank, nipping at its hide and then bouncing backward to safety. Her dull black leopard was burning hot in the summer sun, and Hint was grateful to be blessed with short thin fur to counter it.

Her small orange eyes squinted in the light, and she took note of her pack and preys positions through the hazy summer air. She let out a small growl, and snapped her small jaws, clamping her tiny sharp fangs together. She readied herself, and dove back into the hunt, aiming to land by the bisons shoulder near the wound.