She couldn't help but smile at the youngster's reaction to the idea. Despite the sadness in her heart, Anyu always felt lighter when she was with younger wolves. They were still so full of life and energy - even when they were as small and hungry as this one. She wagged her tail, the first real sign of happiness that she had shown yet.


When Kanosak spoke she turned her head. She could smell both caribou and deer in the air, not far from where they were, just as he could, and she already had an idea as to what would be good for them to hunt. “I was thinking deer,” she responded. “Caribou would be more difficult. Me and Scrap here need more strength before we're ready to hunt caribou.”


She didn't think to ask if the youngster minded if she called him Scrap. It was all meant in a good way, and in some sense he really was a scrap of a wolf. She had heard his name, of course, but she continued with the nickname without really thinking about it.

Anyu waited until Kanosak began to move before she picked herself up and started to head toward the scent of deer. She motioned for Kashikoi to follow her. “Don't worry,” she said to him reassuringly. “There's three of us. We'll do it together.” She followed Kanosak towards the scent of deer; it didn't take all that long to reach them.


She looked over the herd closely, hiding in the bushes among the trees. The herd was small and the deer were thinner than usual, but they were good enough to eat. Her goal was to see one that would be easier for Kashikoi to catch, so that he could participate in the hunt as much as possible. Still, she felt that his main role would have to involve chasing the deer towards herself and the other male.


It did not take her long to spot a deer that was suitable. He was younger and his antlers were smaller. He seemed to be straggling along behind the other members of the herd. He seemed tired, and so she thought that he might be sick or injured in some way, though he appeared fine. Anyu signaled to Kashikoi and Kanosak, pointing towards the deer at the back. He wasn't the smallest, but he wasn't terribly large either. She whispered instructions to Kashikoi. “Go around quietly and scare him towards me and Kanosak,” she instructed softly. “If you can keep up with him, bite at his haunches. When he is close enough, we'll attack.”

Kashikoi did as he was told, and soon the lone deer was sprinting towards them, it's eyes wide with fear. Anyu remained in her hiding spot, waiting for it to come nearer so that she might leap out and hit a vulnerable spot before the deer even knew what had happened. Suddenly, however, it changed course and for a moment Anyu panicked, afraid that it would escape. She almost gave away her hiding place, but then she saw that Kanosak had already leaped at the deer, driving it back on course - which was straight for her position.


The deer was already beginning to weaken, she saw. He had already appeared tired and weak compared to the others, and his stamina was not quite up to par. She waited as Kashikoi and Kanosak drove the deer closer and closer to where she stood. The deer, still mad with fear and confused by Kanosak's appearance, was coming closer and closer to where she was hiding.


Finally, with a mighty leap, she lunged towards the deer's throat, just before it trampled her where she had been hiding. She hit her mark - which would have been difficult to miss - and latched on tight to the neck. She could already taste blood in her mouth, but it wasn't enough to mean that she had pierced a major artery. She put more force behind her jaws, sinking her teeth as deep as she could while still hanging on. The skin around the throat was thin and it gave way beneath her teeth easily. A gush of blood told her that the carotid artery had been pierced. It would not be long before the deer died now.


She chomped down a little more for good measure and then she dropped from the deer, moving out of the way of it's flying hooves as quickly as she could. Even so, she felt a hoof scrape her flank and she winced in pain. It wasn't a serious injury, but it hurt. As she turned, the deer was already faltering as it ran. This would be a successful hunt.