Heartleaf Creek Are We There Yet?

Avella spoke one word, and it was the only one he needed to hear at that moment. Taking his cue from the other, he moved slowly at first. As they had done with the rabbit, Alarick angled himself away from his traveling companion so that he would be closing in on their injured prey from a different flank, narrowing its options for escape.

He had seen enough to know that this deer was not going to last much longer. It was going to perish, if not by their doing, then at some point in the future. However, survival instinct was a powerful thing possessed to some degree by all creatures. That kept them going even against seemingly impossible odds or through hopeless circumstances. Alarick had just come through a harsh winter of that on his own.

And as the ungulate’s ears swiveled and its head turned to track their approach, he knew this deer had not given up on that, either. It started forth again through the snow, breaking out into a hobbled run, clearly favoring a front limb. Al darted after it, briefly amazed at the speed it acquired despite its injured state, though it was not enough. He gained ground quickly and darted in to strike the deer’s back leg to slow it, before veering off to avoid any retaliation, and to gauge the approach his companion had taken so he could adjust accordingly if necessary.

Avella had given her signal to start the hunt though it wasn't much of one. The deer was already injured and not moving very fast. She knew there was every chance that it might get a second wind and fight back. That was the way of prey animals. When faced either a threat like a couple of hungry wolves they would fight all the way to the end even when there was no way they were going to keep the inevitable from happening.

A quick survey of the scene was done just before Alarick took off. He took up a position on one side at its flank. Avella chose to go the other way and cut its escape of from that side. She was staying at its side and shortening the space it had to turn. Just as expected they were faced with a deer that wanted to give itself one last chance to save its own life despite it fading fast.

She could see her companion as he came in for the first strike. The blow went to one of the deers hind legs which caused the deer to lose its balance but surprisingly it regained it quickly. It seemed it was Avella's turn and she decided that it was time to end this. The masked woman left and landed across its back to hold it down. This time Alarick could deliver the final blow that would end the deers pain.

In an impressive display of strength and agility, Avella used her size and added weight to bring the deer down, herself. Its injured limbs gave way immediately, and with his positioning, Al saw his opening. He charged forth, grabbing ahold of the soft area along the ungulate’s neck, his momentum carrying him and the deer forward enough to drive their prey onto its size.

Its limbs kicked out against the ground as it continued to struggle, managing to pull its neck away from his grasp for a moment. All it managed with that was to tear open it’s own throat and injure itself further, as he shuffled about to avoid being struck by an errant hoof. The stench and taste of blood consumed his senses as he took ahold of the deer by the back of its neck and joined his companion in holding it down while the last of the struggle left its body.

Once it had, Al lowered the creature’s head to the ground, and offered a silent prayer of gratitude for this good fortune. ”You are good,” he murmured, sides heaving as he caught his breath. The ability of Avella had not yet ceased to impress him, though. She had his respect and was surely a worthy leader.

Avella's moments were quick though the deer was sure to know what was coming. She and Alarick hadn't hidden their presence from the dying creature. She was on its back in a matter of moments holding it as still as she could to give her companion the opening he needed to get his grip on the deers neck.

It all played out as perfectly as she'd imagined it would. Even after the deer had torn its neck away from Alarick. He gained it back and together they held the animal still until its last breath left its body.

It was a bittersweet moment because the deer had Stull been young. It was unfortunate that she and her companion'd had to preform the mercy killing. She offered a small smile to his words, "I had to learn quickly as a pup on my own to become very good at take downs." She stepped away from the deer and looked it over. "We should get it somewhere safe so we can take it back home with us."

FADE