While Mapplethorpe had not specifically given Mercy something to do (having Karpos nearby was more of concern at the present moment), he was rather glad that the boy decided for himself what he ought to do. As he and Karpos started to make their own path around the deer, the Leader found himself slightly smirking as he fixated his eyes on their targets, confident that both cubs would - at last - show him what they were worth in the spirit of the hunt. The three males seemed to move all at once, shifting at first in order to catch Sagacity's signal and then darting forward to send the antlered family into action. Both boys advanced before him, their youthful and spritelier bodies quickly propelling them through the snow. "Go, go!" he snarled, watching attentively as both targeted one of the does.

Tagging along about a wolf's length behind them, he cast a glimpse over his shoulder but failed to catch a glance Sagacity. Nevertheless, he knew she would and could take care of herself; his duty at present were to the two wards (two promising yearlings in the making) and their safety. The youths steered the doe towards the place where Crowe and Chulyin were waiting. Over the sound of his pulsing heartbeat he heard the rhythm of retreating hooves and as Mercy and Karpos succeeded in their task of separating the first doe, Naira lunged in a flash of tawny fur. Wayward limbs and violent kicks found her side and Mapplethorpe instinctively reacted.

He seized what newfound energy and adrenaline he had and captured the doe's other leg as Naira attacked it's rump. Increasing the pressure in his jaw and forcing his teeth into the deer's flesh, he tugged slightly at it, relishing its struggle. She bleated as she tried hard to veer to one side, calling desperately for the young buck to return to her aid. Mapplethorpe compulsively then attempted to growl over her cries, continuing to hold his ground enough to make her stagger laterally within striking distance for either Crowe or Chulyin to strike its neck while most of her attention was held by the two tawny Leaders who had sent her to death's doorstep.

All too soon the woodlands around him grew still and the only sounds he could discern apart from the heartbeat in his ears were the shuffling and panting of his pack. His eyes fell upon Mercy and Karpos first after eyeing the two dead deer in their midst; it had seemed that the boys did well in keeping their wits about them when it had come time for the pack's Guardians to take down their prey. Mapplethorpe tore his eyes from them and cast his eyes around at the adults, Naira first and then Sagacity... then the men under his command. He took a deep breath and held it in attempt to regulate his racing heartbeat. When he released it several seconds later, he moved forward and nearly stumbled when weight was put down on his right fore limb. He caught himself before his chin could even drop so low as to touch the trampled snow and as quickly as he could, eyed the subordinates who were more than likely watching his every move.

To any who dared to continue to stare, he let out a thunderous, vicious, and visceral growl as his tail waved to and fro, high in the air. It seemed that they all knew their place and for that the Hollowheart Keep Leader was appeased. He strode over to the first deer, the one the cubs had separated on their own, looked it over, then returned to the one he and Naira had helped take down. In one unfaltering move he craned his head down to pierce his teeth into the doe's soft hide. As diligently as he could, he peeled the fur and skin away from the still-warm corpse then took one step back to allow his beloved Queen @Naira to relish the first bite of the feast.

(EXIGO.)