Secluded Spring The Distance

This is a pack hunt, the first for the pups. It is also open to any loners that might want to join and perhaps help out.

With winter coming Emrys worried more and more that they wouldn't have enough food to last them through the toughest times. After the previous year and the decrease in their numbers the pale leader had these worries in his mind more and more. He often found it hard to sleep and usually spent his nights pacing outside the den he shared with his family.

To remedy his worries about their caches he'd been sending Nauja out of the territory almost everyday in search of a herd. They needed a pack hunt, not only for the children but also for the pack. Thankfully after almost a week of sending her out she came back with news of a herd she’d been watching. A herd of mule deer that had taken up temporary residence not far from the notch. They had been there at least a day and she had seen a few that would be prime pickings for the notch wolves.

Emrys decided it was best to gather everyone before heading to where Nauja had seen the elk. He didn't want to send them on the run before they had their chance. He raised his pale muzzle into the air and sent the message for everyone to gather with him.

Once he had the pack behind him and with Nauja in the lead the journey to where the mule deer were began. They would take shelter some distance away as they made their plan before they would finally strike. Emrys could only hope everything would go off without a hitch.

(This post was last modified: Nov 02, 2017, 12:10 AM by Emrys.)

For many days the sea wolf had been leaving the territory in search of a herd for the pack. Emrys had expressed the importance of finding one and had even told her about the previous winter. She didn't want the pack to have to go through that again during the coming winter. She'd been diligently going out early every morning and coming back late. Finally her hard work had paid off as a herd moved into an area not far from the packs territory. As soon as she had discovered it she'd returned and reported it then for a few days after she watched the herd reporting anything back to Emrys that might be of value.

The pale leader had given her a day to rest before calling the pack to the hunt. Once they had all gathered she was the one chosen to lead them to where the herd of mule deer had picked to take up residence for the time being. She knew there were a few sick and injured amongst the rest so the pickings would be good. All they had to do now was get a plan together. She waited patiently for Emrys to speak on whatever plan he had in mind.

(This post was last modified: Nov 02, 2017, 12:12 AM by Nauja.)

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In the pack meeting his father had mentioned a hunt which had excited the grey pup. He'd been practicing his hunting around the notch and now he would get to use them for real or at least he hoped. He wanted to ask Emrys what he would he doing while they were waiting for the others to join but he hadn't gotten the chance. Nauja had been chosen to lead them to where they would be hunting.

On the way there he'd stayed close to his sister, it was his first hunt too and he was wondering what she was feeling. He was a little nervous about it, what if he did something wrong? All of it made him feel a little queasy if he were honest but he was going to try and do the best he could. As they came to the place where his father had chosen for them to gather before the hunt Elyan took a seat by his sister giving her a quick bump and a wide grin.

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She wasn't ready for this, she hadn't been when her father had mentioned it in the meeting. Sure she had tried to catch things on her excursions away from the territory but they had all gone badly. She was almost certain that this would go badly for her too, she did not understand how her brother could be so happy about the hunt when she just wanted to go back to the den.

As she followed the adults Elyan kept pace with her and she could feel his fur brush against theirs as they went. She looked to her mother half wanting to speak up and ask if she could just sit this one out but she knew her mother would tell her no. With the way her father had spoken about it at the meeting she felt like it was something she had to do whether she wanted to or not. So she followed and when they came to gather and Elyan bumped her and gave her that grin she reached up and nipped his ear, that would show him.

There is a deer that was killed by a lynx nearby. +10 Health

 

Electing to step down from her position as Lead female had not been an easy choice. The stress of rearing two active children and juggling the responsibilities of leadership had weighed heavily on her shoulders. Their dwindling numbers only amplified that stress. Hawthorne had vanished, and soon after, Sylva, her mother, had as well. Jynx was fuming, once again dealt with a cruel blow of treachery. She couldn't blame the young Riverflow. Pups were curious at their age, yearning to explore and see more and more of the outside world. Sylva on the other hand, had finally shown her true colors. If she ever showed her face around the Notch again, Jynx would show her the price of treason.

What she really needed was a break...a time to decompress, gather her thoughts and clear her head. And, to spend more time with her growing children instead of always being on the job. It would only be temporary, this shift in power, she reminded herself. Once she had steeled her nerves again and stiffened her spine, she would step up and reclaim her place by Emrys' side. Just because she assumed the rank of second for the time being, did not mean she had lost any of her spirit. On the inside, she questioned herself. Wondered if it was weak of her, as a wolf in her prime, as a second time leader, to cave under such pressure? Other wolves she had once knew had been in her shoes before, handling the challenge of motherhood and leadership effortlessly. She shook her head in nonsense. Every wolf was different. Each with his or her own unique ways of handling these challenges. Whilst she felt badly for putting the full burden squarely on the shoulders of her mate, she knew Emrys would understand. He always did. 

At the meeting, she had already known about the hunt before it was announced. She had discussed the need for a hunt with her husband before the meeting began, and both agreed that it was high time that the pups witness their first hunt. They were getting big now, and soon they would be moving on to targets bigger than mere hares and voles. When it came time for them to venture out in the world, or pull their weight in the pack, they would need to know how to catch their own prey. Prey that sometimes, fought back. As her mates call echoed in the air, summoning the Notch wolves to the location of the prospective hunt, her ears shot up. A firm but loving nudge of her muzzle was delivered to the haunch of each of her children as she ushered them along, reminding them not to get too excited. Arwyn, she noticed, didn't seem particularly thrilled. "This is one lesson that you cannot afford to miss. I want you both to pay attention and stay put." She said with a firm edge to her voice as they arrived at the small gathering. The scent of Mule Deer filled their noses, no doubt enticing their senses and peaking a newfound curiosity in the pups. But at this time of year, she knew, the males were in rut, making them less docile than usual. They’d have to be careful. She came to Emrys' side, brushing her flank against his, facing Nauja. "Good job locating this herd for us. We seem to have some options." As a refined huntress, her expert eyes skimmed over the herd, assessing each animal individually, looking for subtle signs of weakness. Tyne and Ambrosia had not arrived yet, she noted. But there was no rush, not unless the herd spooked, spoiling their chances before the hunt even began.

The large agouti sea wolf was gaining strength with each passing day. He was no longer skin and bones with a pelt that was patchy and clearly unhealthy. The former hunter was regaining his skills learning to move with the scars and tissue damage from the attack. It had been a while since he had hunted with others and took anything down of considerable size. When the call rang through the air his charcoal ears shot up and creamy limbs stopped in their tracks.

A hunt? Excitement and anexity filled the Kersey man. He owed these wolves his life but wasn't sure if he was ready to pull his weight in front of everyone. What if he messed up and blew the whole thing? What if they end up hating him? There wasn't time for what ifs. He had to get there. Tyne was on the far side of the territory doing a border patrol, thus causing him to arrive a bit late.

Upon coming up to where the others were golden eyes took in his alpha, his mate, their two pups and Nauja. He gave a smile and a nod to the ruling pair as he moved to Naujas side. He was unaware that there was a heard that had already been choosen but their scent in the wind made it clear what would be their target. He gave the onyx woman a nudge to her shoulder in greeting. This was it.

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Across the pack lands when the call to hunt was made, Ambrosia's ears still perked up upon hearing it. So he abandoned his trail of a rabbit to go towards it as a pack hunt would hopefully yeild more then one lousy morsel. And with winter coming up, if they could get at least one pack hunt in,it's be a good start to filling the caches up.

As soon as he could, the male was trotting up to the small group and his heart sank a little when he noticed that he was the last to show up. Even though he knew Jynx had stepped down to second for now, he still bowed his head towards both Emrys and Jynx.

"Apologies for being late - I was on the other side of the land." He rumbled softly, settling down just to the right of Nauja and Tyne as he glanced towards where the herd was.

The pale leader hoped that bringing something back from the herd that Nauja had found would prove to be a good omen that things would get better in the notch. He was tired of them having to defend their territory against bears, mountain lions and angry Buffalo. He was tired of the members who came and disappeared in the night. He shared his wife's worries and was glad that she had stepped down to take the time for herself. She needed the rest and to spend time with their children, to have the chance to enjoy being a mother before their first litter grew and decided what they wanted to do with their lives.

As his mate came up next to him brushing her flank against his side he reached over and placed a kiss to her cheek. He'd heard her telling the children how important this lesson was, “Listen to your mother, this is a lesson that will benefit you later in life,” he said directing his statement to the two pups. Whether they stayed in the notch or not once they had grown learning to hunt in a group was an essential skill. “It is very important that you stay where it's safe,” he added to emphasize his mates words hoping that if it came from both of them the pups would do as they were told.

Only a few moments later Tyne arrived followed closely by Ambrosia, good they could get started. He gave a nod of greeting to their newest member as he took his place next to Nauja. “It's quite alright, just glad you're here to help,” he said to his second and offered the man an appreciative smile for the respect he showed Jynx despite her new rank. “Now that you all are here we can get started.” He looked to Jynx since she was the hunter and his co-lead no matter her rank. “Do you have a plan in mind?”

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She waited with Emrys for the others to arrive eager to see the work she'd put in bring food to the caches. Never had she done anything like this before, a pack hunt and one she had helped so much in already. It felt good to the sea wolf to be able to help the pack like this. Soon Jynx arrived with the children, she had to laugh at their antics. Each day they grew bigger and while she was happy to see them happy and healthy she worried what would happen when they were big enough to make their own decisions.

Her observations of the children were interrupted by Jynx giving her praise for finding the herd. “Thank you. We do have quite a few and if possible maybe we can bring a couple of them down.” She didn't know how possible that would he but it was worth a try with winter so close. Tyne arrived, she offered him a smile as he came to sit next to her with a nudge. She was glad to see him at the hunt after what he'd been through. She gave him a nudge with her nose to his shoulder to return his greeting. Ambrosia was next comibg to sit on her other side before Emrys spoke leaving Nauja surprised when he looked to Jynx for their plan. She supposed she shouldn't have been though since she had only stepped down temporarily.

(This post was last modified: Nov 08, 2017, 02:03 PM by Nauja.)

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