The male had decided earlier that morning to test out his injured back leg with a little walk to the edges of his territory. Kino had been pleasantly surprised that there was no longer any pain in his weak leg now covered in scars. Instead it felt rigid and stiff from not using it enough. He could live with that though, and exercise would definitely help to both build and loosen up the muscles. He had paused in his exercise when the older male had reached his favorite place within Black Thorn Downs territory.

Tokino was at his sunny boulder. It was the only place, besides cuddled up next to @Minka, that the male could get nice and warm while laying in the sunlight. The weather throughout the land had become chilly and cold, though not as frigid as the winter to come, and the leaves had dispersed from most of the tree species in Lore. Fall had swept through Black Thorn Downs pack territory rather quickly and brought plenty of rain with it. Muddy spots soaked the field of drying blackberry bushes, and in the lower elevated areas there had been enough rain and flooding from the streams to create large pools.

Minutes clicked by, but for whatever reason Tokino felt the urge to get up and head out again. Normally he sat or lay upon his rock and stay there for hours (after his chores were done of course) but today the male just felt like he needed to go somewhere out there. So listening to his instincts, Tokino dropped off of his boulder and began padding forward.

Another ten minutes went by before Tokino scented a whiff of moose. Surprised at that smell, and the fact that a moose was in a field instead of a marsh, Tokino veered towards the direction of which the smell came from. Eventually the scent got stronger, but so too id the whiffs of Kova and some other Black Thorn Downs she wolf. Worry began to spread over his face as Tokino registered his sons smell which seemed to be growing at the same rate as the moose scent. As if he were where the moose was.

Not good... The elder male pushed his body forward though he was careful of not pushing his healing back leg too far. Concern for his son egged the leader forward until he crested a short hill and looked downwards to the lower flat field which was half covered by water. He noted the fish splashing around and making waves in the pool, but he also saw the moose, Kova, and another she wolf hiding near his son. By the womans body posture the gray male could see that the she wolf was trying to help Kova and get him to follow her away from the dangerously close moose. Eyeballing the moose from afar, Kino watched the giant creature trying to stomp on the ripples of water where fish were coming too close to her. He could smell infection coming from the moose as he stood and watched for a moment. He dare not move in from this direction and alert the moose that the other pair of wolves were there. Tokino hoped that Kova would quietly follow the she wolf away without alarming the moose.

What else can I do? Tokino thought quietly while watching the scene unfold. The moose was still stomping at the fish, but her movements were slowly bringing her closer to Kova and the stranger. If I come around from the other side and try to distract it... Then it might try to attack and follow me away from them. He debated for a moment on the idea knowing that he himself was healing an injury. Tokino wouldn't be as fast as he normally could be. But the moose has a serious infection too. She won't be able to move too fast either. So she won't try to run from me towards them, she'll fight me off knowing she can't flee. He let a growl slip through his throat before turning to the left and loping forwards through the brush. Again he kept most of his weight off that back leg, but Kino was glad he had more freedom of movement now than he had about a month prior. The elder made sure to keep to the shadows of the largest bushes while he looped all the way around Kova, the stranger, and the moose. Then the silver wolf positioned himself behind the moose and crept forward through the bushes.

Only about several feet away from the cow now, Tokino placed himself in open view of the moose and let out a long howl for his pack mates. The howl would serve to distract the moose, showing her his position, and to gather comrades to help take out the danger to themselves and the pups. "Minka, @Inali, Ryka, @Lugh, @Atlas, @Bane, @Anstice, and @Couth I need your help! Come now! Tokino's hollow howl filled the sky causing the moose to pivot on three legs to face him angrily.

How dare a wolf come up behind her! She would show him who was stronger!

The cow stamped its forelegs into the mud of the bank splattering the ground before the gray wolf. Her first tactic was intimidation. Tokino glanced to Kova and the stranger she wolf and gestured for them to "go" before snapping his jaws angrily at the moose. He was intimidated, but his offspring was right there behind her hiding in the bushes, and to keep Kova safe trumped any kind of fright Tokino could have in this situation. He held his ground showing the cow moose that he wasn't going anywhere. Though Kino's legs were tense as he readied himself to move quickly to dodge her flying hooves.

The moose felt a bit nervous seeing the wolf firmly standing his ground, however she started steeping forward bravely. Lifting her own injured leg high off the ground to keep it out of the way, the cow used one of her forelegs to keep herself steady while she lifted the other to swipe at Tokino. The gray wolf bounded to her right skipping under her attacks before backing up a few paces. Good! Back up more! No, Run you mangy canine! the moose stepped forward again and repeated her attacks hoping to catch the wolf if he stumbled or strayed too close to her.

The moose never realized that a wolf pup was directly behind her. At least Tokino's plan for getting her farther away from the other two wolves was working.

Tokino dodged, dipped, ducked, and dodged constantly avoiding the moose's flying hooves. He always made sure to keep himself a few steps out of reach, but his back leg had already buckled a few times as the gray wolf ran about. He himself was not tired, but his freshly healed leg was losing strength quickly. It did not have the muscle mass that Kino's other three legs still held. The older male hoped that someone would come soon, or he might make a mistake and get clipped by the cow's hoof.

That was when a small rust form sped out beside him. Tokino expelled a small sigh of relief as Inali joined the male in distracting the moose. He couldn't help but laugh as the speedy she wolf easily dodged all the attacks the cow aimed towards her.

You are just in time. My leg isn't going to hold out for much longer! Tokino growled as his back leg buckled for the fourth time and his body swerved to the left just behind Inali. Catching himself swiftly and putting more distance between he and the moose, Tokino let Inali do the rest of the closer work. Instead the male continued snarling and growling at the moose from his somewhat safer position.

.

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What is this? the cow moose jerked back for a moment as a second wolf joined the first. She bellowed at the red furred creature as it took the gray wolfs original position and began snapping at her. She knew that wolves traveled in packs that could be small or large. However she had hoped that this wolf had been a stupid loner. Loners were usually easy to scare away, and the cow had no idea why these two creatures were still dogging her. With a loud snort the moose stomped forwards trying to get at the gray wolf who was backing away. Her front legs flailed about as the cow swept at the smaller faster she wolf. I am not impressed by your stupidity! The cow groaned as she jerked forwards heading for Inali.