Fallen Tree Cove There's a bond that brothers know

Brotherly bonding time for @Leo

"Leooooo." The long-drawn-out name of his brother reverberated across the stillness of the morning air, rising and falling in sync with the bounces that filled Galen's steps as he searched for the agouti silhouette of his older sibling hiding somewhere within the Cove. While lost in the wilderness there was a lot of soul-searching Galen had done, accepting the notion that one day stepping up to fill the large paws of his late father and providing not only the stability but strength their family needed was his mission in life. No longer was little Gale going to be a weakling nobody could depend on.

He owed his family that much at least and in order to do so, though, there were relationships within the pack the swarthy boy felt he needed to mend and some that needed to be formed altogether. Today's agenda consisted of some man-to-man bonding with his brother, more specifically a hunting trip to mark the beginning of the young Vuesain pulling his weight around here. Also, to perhaps gain some words of wisdom from his more experienced brother. That was if he could find him first, of course.

As always, Leo was up early, ready to take on whatever tasks the pack needed of him. Usually that meant walking the borders, though he’d take on the occasional hunt when necessary. And today would seem to be just such a day, as his younger brother found him not long after sunrise. “Hey Gale,” he greeted softly, the very corners of his mouth turned up in a faint smile. Leo was very happy to have his brother back, while he loved all his sisters dearly, there was something special about having a brother, a unique experience that he hadn’t felt since Lynx left. But now, especially as Galen was growing up, they could share those things; and Leo might have a chance to pass on some of their father’s legacy as well. “What are you up to?” He asked, an affectionate hum in his voice as he wondered if his little brother had come seeking something specific, or just to say hello. In any case, he was always happy to see him. Thoughts ”Speech”

Lakela @DA

Gradually the lingering scent of his brother grew stronger the closer Galen found himself to the border of the Cove, following its path of travel under the assumption that Leo had most likely opted to take advantage of the quiet early hours to begin his day with an early morning border patrol. It didn't take long for the eager swarthy pup to eventually spot the slow trotting silhouette of Leo up ahead, picking up the pace of his own paws to saddle up along his brother's side and offer his shoulder a gentle bump in greeting. "Morning, Leo."

“What are you up to?”

Perfect. There was no hiding the giddy smile that tugged firmly at the corner of Gale's lips, shifting his golden gaze from the path ahead to that of his brother. "I'm glad you asked." Excitement fueled the young boy's steps, his tail picking up momentum behind him. "I was wondering if you could maybe help me get better at hunting." He started off hesitant at first, letting a small level of seriousness begin to seep into his words despite the full level of seriousness that shone behind his golden gaze. "I wanna start helping out around here."

Leo nudged his little brother back in an unusual show of playfulness, infected by the boy’s good mood, and happy that he’d sought the older boy out to share his joy. Leo himself was a very serious nature, feeling the weight of his father’s legacy heavily on his shoulders, and always aware of his duty. But he did not recent his siblings for their more cheerful character, especially the pups, knowing that it didn’t mean they cared any less and they still had plenty time to grow into adults, when they would need to be responsible all the time. But it would seem Galen was reaching that age, speaking about learning and helping out. Pride swelled in Leo’s chest at not only seeing this change in his younger brother, but at the fact that he had been the one he sought out to help him. Gale had found a way to channel his giddiness into positive action and Leo applauded this, offering his dark sibling a full-fledged smile; “I think that’s a great idea, and I’d be more than happy to help.” This would be Leo’s first time acting as teacher in truth, a somewhat daunting prospect, but he was confident and in good spirits. Giving Gale another playful nudge, he spoke with an affected, commanding tone: “Alright, nose in the air! What are we hunting?” Thoughts ”Speech”

Lakela @DA

Galen didn't think it was atomically possible for the inky lining of his lips to pull back any further to widen the grin plastered across his paw once he was granted the positive reassurance from his older brother that he had made the right decision in seeking him out for this particular task. A task that actually began immediately once the question was asked. All forms of giddiness that flooded the swarthy boy's entirety was swiftly exchanged for seriousness after returning the playful nudge from Leo, coal tinted nose lifted to begin inhaling the various scents that mingled together in the early morning mountain air.

At first Galen found it hard to detect anything notable, his sense of smell overwhelmed by the pungent odor of the pines and the well marked border of their home. "I dont smell.." He began slowly, nose twitching at the end of his muzzle while inhaling a deeper breath into his lungs. Failure was not an option for the young Vuesain. C'mon, cmon.. Then, a familiar scent hit his nostrils and the golden hue of his eyes widened, tail wagging widely at his rump in excitement. "Rabbit!" He all but shouted due to his excitement, looking back to his brother with ears momentarily swept backwards and a sheepish smile on his face.

The fundamentals of hunting came instinctively to most wolves: a natural interest in the scent of prey and the urge to chase it, as well as most pups’ penchant for play fighting, honing their skills even through childhood play. But to become an efficient hunter required the harnessing of those skills and further practicing; Relentless practicing! Leo himself was far from an expert in the field, but with his extra year of experience, he was sure to have a few nuggets to pass on to his little brother. Already, the older wolf was secretly sifting through the scents carried to them by the breeze, looking for a suitable target – they were unlikely to find any herds this close to the strong markers of the Cove borders, but something smaller would probably work better any way – though he would wait for Galen to announce his choice first. And the younger boy soon did just that, all be it a little louder than was pertinent to their goal. Leo cocked one brow at his brother, though his lips were still curled genially, muzzle flicking upwards, encouraging him to continue. Once Gale was in motion, Leo would trot up alongside him, speaking in a hushed tone: “Rabbit’s a good choice with just two hunters, but we’ll have to be sneaky,” he put a little extra pressure on the word, but it was all in good humor, he appreciated the yearling’s enthusiasm; “Once we get close, we should split up to try and surround them. For now, keep your head low and follow the trail.” Thoughts ”Speech”

Lakela @DA