Fallen Tree Cove Sleeping Giant

The pack, as one, like a massive tidal wave, rushed forth to overwhelm their opponent. Each wolf was of the same mindset, all with one single goal. To drain the life from the predator whom had been so reckless to endanger the wolves of Fallen Tree Cove. There was no other option, not now. Earthy eyes narrowed into slits, audits pinned firmly back against her skull, Neha bravely soared forth into the fray. The aim of her jaws had not been seeking a specific target; she would be satisfied with whatever she got, so long as she drew blood. As luck would have it, the sharpened ivory canines within her mouth connected with the thinner flesh which joined the bears left foreleg to it's body. There she clamped down mercilessly, bracing her legs to dig her paws deep into the soil beneath her.

Snarls and bellows from wolf and bear alike swarmed all around her. Of pain on behalf of the bear, and of fury and tenacity from that of her family. Her eardrums were pummeled by the chaos, the noise, but she refused to lose her focus. Just like the spitfire she was supposed to be, Neha would not relent in her attack until their enemy was defeated. With a bellow, the animal was toppled, it's vulnerable belly and throat exposed. The growing Lake Princess moved naturally, allowing the momentum of the much larger predator forcing her to take several steps to the side, without relinquishing her hold. The taste of iron seeped down around her tongue as the wound worsened. Infuriated by the events that had played out, she only shook her head from side to side, to inflict further damage, uncaring of the blood that stained her pale maw.

Her eyes, unnaturally harsh with focus, darted towards her mother, who then, as Queen, moved in to deliver the final blow. Limbs braced, she held the still struggling bear in place, along with the assistance of her pack, until she felt it's body slacken. As it took it's last breath and stilled, Neha allowed the tension to slowly ebb out of her body. With a grunt, she let go of the body. Pride welled in her chest as Namid praised everyone who was present for the fantastic job they had done as a unit. Proof that they as a pack, truly had everyone's best interest in mind. There was no stronger bond between those who looked out for one another. As her mother turned to head to the infirmary with Moonshadow and Cernan, her eyes lingered on their retreating forms for a moment. They would be okay, she knew. They were in capable hands. Now, like the others, she turned to her sire for guidance. They needed to get the carcass out of here before long. The sooner it was out of her sight, the better.

Just like that, the beast was felled.

Its collapse was in slow motion within Nathaniel's mossy eyes, but once the others launched forward, the world raced back to speed. Nathaniel joined his comrades in landing any hit he could, until their rival-turned-prey ceased moving altogether. Blood lined his lips and clung to his fangs, and something about the whole mess of it made him feel unsettled in the pit of his stomach. Stepping back, he surveyed the damage done and found it gruesome. Despite all of his unsavory trespasses, violence had never been a vice of his.

His ears picked up as Namid's voice broke the heavy silence that the bear's death had triggered. Her flowery congratulations passed over him, and he mulled over the two options given to him. While it was most logical for him to follow Vespertio's lead and help take away the body, that wasn't what he wanted to do. He wanted to go with Cernan, to look after the boy and make sure that the injury was only as deep as could be seen.

It took a few moments to decide whether or not this would be wise, and tallying up who all would actually be left to deal with the remains tipped the scale. He had half a mind to nudge Neha and urge her to go with her brother, the but that determined glint in her eye as she waited for her father's command stifled this desire. For the second time in this event he was forced to acknowledge that they were on the cusp of adulthood, and no longer needed to be coddled.

Stepping forward, he clamped his jaws around a shoulder and braced his muscles before looking to the alpha. Where to?

Like a rogue bolt of lightning the pale silhouette of Namid's form surged forth to perform the dirty task of bringing this entire event to a close, each member working as one to keep the bear restrained while its life force slowly spewed from the open wound delivered to its neck by the leading lady's teeth to tarnish her pale chest and muzzle in a crimson coating. Vespertio knew the scene would never be pretty regardless of how one went about performing it. Death was not something of this world meant to be pretty and the black bear's last fleeting moments of life were no exception. Gradually the tawny male could feel the creature's strength begin to dwindle between the sunken points of his fangs until it grew completely lax in his grasp, russet ears catching the wheezing sound of a breath being exhaled without an inhale to follow. The deed was done.

Only once the voice of his wife began to stroke against his eardrums did Vesper relinquish his grip, a slow ache beginning to filter in now that the immediate rush of adrenaline began to slowly recede from his muscles. Taking a couple step backs his tongue set to work in removing the individual strands of fur that had lodged themselves behind his row of teeth due to biting so firmly for so long. Gradually the others began to release their own grips as Namid informed them what was going to happen from this point on, instructing those injured to follow her while those whom remained were left with the grunt work of cleaning up. An idea his muscles were slowly beginning to scream at, but as a doting husband and leader it was a task he knew had to be done. So with a tired smile offered in return to his wife as golden eyes watched her disappear toward the infirmary with Moonshadow and Cernan in tow his attention soon shifted to those that remained. His precious daughter included whom in that moment never looked more like an adult than she did now and he couldn't have been more proud of her efforts.

Clearing his throat he allowed his gaze to roam over each member as he spoke. "We will fill as many caches as we can with the meat this bear will provide and if we can manage to save it keep the fur as well. It will do good come winter to keep us warm." Pausing to give them time to absorb his words; knowing they all had to be just as exhausted as himself, he continued shortly afterwards. "Once we have picked it clean we will move what remains far enough away from the territory to keep scavengers from daring to cross borders." With instructions delivered the tawny male saddled up on the opposite side of the beat that Nathaniel now stood with a shoulder clamped in his jaws. Together with the help of Nathaniel, Neha and Kajika and a couple hours of labor the only tell tale signs of the event were the puddles of blood and clumps of ebony hair leaving them with filled caches, a new rug lining the communal den floor and the rest of the day to recoup from such an exhausting encounter.

Fade.