Hunt Opportunity - West RL - Moose

This is the beginning of the fourth round. Since less than five wolves responded, the moose has escaped and this will be the final round. This thread will be archived on 3/12/14 at which point you may collect LP.

With a varying sense of urgency, Gaerd wandered southwest. At first he had felt pressured to move faster, to escape, and at times he had imagined to sounds of wolves tracking him, their excited barks tailing him. Eventually he came to realize it was really just that: imagined. There were no wolves. For whatever reason, they did not seem to be coming after him. His pace began to slow to a lumber as he wondered why they had given up without even trying to chase him. Gaerd knew he was rather slow for his kind, they should have had no trouble catching him. Perhaps they were too caught up in their silly politics and social hierarchies, concepts Gaerd hardly grasped. Moose were not herd animals, though he knew the wolves were. To him, their ways seemed as simplistic and dependent as mewling goats. The wolves would bicker and starve for their stupidity.

Though he was loath to admit it, he was rather glad he hadn't encountered the beasts in the forest. As good as his battle skills and chances were, it would have ended with some amount of injury that would eventually have killed him out here in this cold, harsh land. Gaerd understood that staying in one piece was more important than his pride. As he pressed onward, his mind began to roam towards his next destination. South would be better. Maybe it was already spring somewhere. Gaerd liked the thought of that.

Lalani glanced anxiously around. They could all smell the prey. It couldn't be all that far away but the idleness of the wolves was making her twitchy. Even the other packs were gathering around but they weren't actually hunting yet. Lani perked her ears when Bastet spoke, waiting to see if the alpha would actually give some kind of order. If he didn't she was tempted to just take after the moose on her own and hoped that others would follow. Maybe members of the other packs would join her. There was no need for this though. Maksim addressed the pack, “I had hoped they would do the hard work and we would chase them off. However, perhaps we can feign our chase and force them to begin their own.” It was a smart strategy, and Lani didn't see anything wrong with it. It helped limit the amount of effort they would actually have to expend. Maksim started trotting in the direction the delicious scent was coming from. “If they do not, then we take the spoils and defend it.” Nodding, Lani started after him.

Maksim kept up a quick pace and she matched him step for step. Even though they were closing the distance quickly, something tickled at Lani and she felt uneasy. At first she couldn't figure out what it was that was bothering her. As they moved, she realized what was wrong. They scent was getting feinter. They were losing the prey! "Maksim! What do we do?" She spun her head, searching for any signs, her ears pivoting, trying to catch a sound. She ran ahead trying to hurry after the animal. She could see its tracks in the snow and catch its scent but it was already fading. It had begun to snow again, the flakes catching in the tracks, starting to cover them. She froze, staring at the tracks and looking in the direction the traveled. She blinked. They had lost it. While they could continue to try and track it, the snow would disguise any trace it left before they were able to catch it. "God dammit!"