Drooping Willows Survival of the fittest

AW, RE:Leotie, you find a pair of bucks with their antlers locked together.@Sven @Ravenna @Nicolò @Romanov @Adeltra I am also going to tag @Odin and @Kip since their join thread takes place before this. 

Weather: Partly cloudy and cold. 9°F -13°C, morning. Hunting Dem 1/?

Well it was certainly a sight that she had stumbled upon while doing her morning border patrol. What some may see as an unfortunate situation the Agouti woman saw it as an opportunity. Two bucks, antlers locked together while battling it out over a doe no doubt. Leotie saw them as easy pickings for her and her packmates.

As she watched them for a fee more beats she couldn't decided if they were still fighting or trying to untangle themselves. It wasn't really any matter to her but what did was taking them both down to fill the caches and make sure the pack ate well.

Two bucks would mean she would need the whole packs help. She hoped none of them were too busy to come lend a paw. Besides who would want to miss this sight, it was the first time she'd seen it since coming to the lore. Tossing her head back she called for the packs assistance not caring if it scared the deer. With any luck one or both would injure themselves trying to get away making everything a little easier.

(This post was last modified: May 23, 2018, 04:46 AM by Leotie.)

Please see Kajika's OOC profile for OOC preferences, thank you

Hunting dem 1/3

Adeltra was out and about when Leotie’s call went up. It was an alert call and she was quick to pick up her pace, bounding over the snow as little more than a black dot. Still, it was a pace she maintained in order to get to the tawny woman. She didn’t really know anything about her other than her name, something she was going to try to rectify. She couldn’t not know someone in their borders, especially not as the child of the leaders...well...leader. She pushed the thought away and kept trucking and boy was she amazed by what she saw when she arrived. 


Two bucks interlocked, muscles bulging and grunts and hollers escaping their jaws. Honestly it was pretty intimidating, but Adeltra of course was one of the weird ones who loved the feeling of a rush. It made her whole body tingle and she was ready for the challenge. She had to get better to protect her pack and her family, no sitting on the sidelines! She was an Archer woman and never would be a damsel in distress, that she would make sure of. She sat to the side and waited for the others to get there, knowing full well the two ladies couldn’t take two testosterone infused bucks out by themselves. But, if they all managed to take them down they would have foods for months! “Good find,” she said to the woman with a bright smile.

(This post was last modified: Mar 06, 2018, 02:04 AM by Adeltra.)

hunting dem 1/3 (if not a pack hunt)

the devil is & always will

Sven too was quick to answer Leotie's call. When he came upon the scene that Adeltra had already joined, what he saw was new to him as well. It took a second for what was occurring to click, but when it did he couldn't help the wry smile that twisted his lips. Something about their dire struggle, of how damned they were and of how gruesome their deaths would be together amused the cruelty within him greatly. Adeltra had commended Leotie on the discovery, and he chuffed in agreement as he came to rest at the woman's side, flank brushing casually with hers.

Maybe his mother's God did exist, and he was smiling upon the Ridge right now for their indomitable nature.

"We could let them tire themselves out," he offered, but clearly that wasn't the option that excited him; "or have fun with this. Perfect time to show you the quickest ways to down a deer, Addy."

Rather than her learning on the fly, they could take their time, be specific in their instructions. The bucks weren't going anywhere, after all. They had all afternoon if they wanted it. Hopefully @Romanov would show as well, so he could get the same lesson.

be a gentleman.

or teaching dem 1/3? will decide.

(This post was last modified: Dec 15, 2017, 04:14 PM by Sven.)

hunt 1/3

Ravenna felt, without a doubt, the Gods of Old were offering a blessing to the wolves of Willow Ridge, for holding onto their land and their hope, even after being tested again and again... Life had it's hardships but it also had it's blessings, and Ravenna hoped that the ending to this year so far going well was a sign that good things were to come for her pack come the New Year. They just needed to hold on for a few more months.

When she made way to this part of the Willows, she arrived a bit away from the rest of her pack that had so far gathered. She did not call out to them, but stalked around the outskirts of the clearing, keeping to the trees and foliage and her senses took hold - watching the deer tangling in the fight thru had, listening to her cousin speak, scenting for any blood that had spilt...

When she drew near, she found a placement amongst them at Adeltra's side, agreeing silently with a smile on Sven's proposal to teach Adeltra. "Sven did a lot more hunting then guarding when he was around your age... He is very good." She spoke to Adeltra, hoping she would be good on the offer. "Depending on how weak they get and how much the rest of the pack comes, I've no doubt we could split the wolf-power and take them both on." It took three to five wolves to take down a deer, more so three if it was injured or weakened with age. These bucks just by poor luck on their end were locked together during a fight so if only two or three more members came along, the pack could eat for weeks on them alone.

(This post was last modified: Jul 22, 2018, 12:53 PM by Ravenna.)

Where have all the good guys gone?

Odin Archer

Odin was not a fast wolf, so it was little surprise that most of the others had arrived to answer Leotie's call before he did. He swept onto the scene with a playful bump for Adeltra and a lowering of his head in acknowledgment for Sven and Ravenna. The easy lopsided smile fell from his face as a single eye landed on the locked bucks, blood freezing as the image of Wraith flying through the air passed through his mind, limbs locking as he questioned whether or not he should just turn around and leave. Rutting deer weren't a joke, and even with their horns locked they still had hooves. All it would take was a twist of one of their heads and the snow would turn red...

Maybe this time it would be him getting put into the frozen earth.

An ear turned as he caught Sven's suggestion about letting them wear themselves out, but he bit his tongue, bringing his rump to rest in the snow, a weary eye thrown Adeltra's way. If she could deal with it, then so would he, or so he told himself as he tried to swallow down the lump that was making it oh so hard to breath at the back of his throat.

There is a rabbit's nest nearby. +1 Health

Hunting Dem 2/?

She saw the bucks startle as her call but they didn't make it very far continuing to struggle to free themselves. The Agouti want kept a close eye on them as she waited for her packmates to arrive. She hoped for the whole pack, it would be a good exercise for them especially with having new members. They needed to have something where they had to work together to accomplish one goal so they could bond as a pack. Her tail thumped the ground as she watched the bucks kick up snow as they were still struggling against each other.

It was no surprise that Adeltra was first on the scene. She was very quick to answer calls regardless of what they were for. Leotie couldn't help the smile that formed on her lips at the girls compliment. “Thank you Adeltra,” she said before brushing her muzzle against the child's in greeting and appreciation. Sven was next to arrive with a chuff which brought the Agouti woman's attention to him as he settled in beside her.

Leotie smiled at his second suggestion for what they could do, “I think now would be the perfect time.to give Adeltra some lesson’s she will need to know them anyway.” Shortly after Ravenna arrived and agreed with giving the pup a lesson in downing deer, “In that case perhaps Sven should lead the lesson,” she teased lightly her blue gaze resting in the man at her side. She also noticed one of their new members Odin had arrived too. He was quiet but Leotie gave him a nod to acknowledge his presence and greet him. “Do we want to wait to see if anyone else comes or get started?”

(This post was last modified: May 23, 2018, 04:59 AM by Leotie.)

Please see Kajika's OOC profile for OOC preferences, thank you

Hunting Dem 2/3

Arriving not too long after her was Sven, a presence she wasn’t surprised to see. She responded to his chuff with a grin, watching as he sidled up next to Leotie. Yup, there was definitely something going on there. She listened as he spoke, auds shifting forward and her tail giving a few swift wags as he mentioned her learned how to hunt them. Perfect! That would be great. She knew how to hunt small game, having lived off of them during her time away, but she was far too small for the bigger ones. Having everyone there would help her to learn and feel safe while she accomplished a new feat in her life.

Ravenna followed soon after, Addy giving her a bump of her shoulder as she sidled up next to her. She also listened quietly as she spoke, amber-yellow gaze shifting to Sven as Ravenna spoke about him being a proficient hunter. Even with his bulk she could see it. Her cousin was powerful, no doubt in her mind that he might be able to take down even a small deer on his own. Not that Ravenna wasn’t strong but she didn’t seem to be built with the same strength that Sven possessed. Of course maybe she shouldn’t be comparing considering that she was the smallest, youngest and most inexperienced one there.

Odin, it seemed, was the final one to join their little band. She was surprised when he gave her a playful bump, not knowing the one-eyed wonder very well, but it was welcomed all the same. She gave him a little woof and a wag of her tail. But, as his eye landed on the deer whatever playfulness had been there seemed to melt away. All too quickly she remembered that he had been there during Cyril’s father’s death. Even though the young girl hadn’t seen the incident herself, the scent of stag had been heavy in the air with all the testosterone it had possessed. Even a fool could have guessed what had occurred and she could only assume that her cousin had seen it. He glanced toward her and she gave him closed-lipped smile, a small nod of understanding passing between them. He was, currently, the only one who knew about what she had witnessed and it felt like they had an almost special connection in that aspect even though it was horrible.

Her attention was drawn over to Leotie who wanted to know if they would proceed or if they would wait. The pup looked between Sven and Ravenna, waiting to be told what to do.

(This post was last modified: Mar 06, 2018, 02:05 AM by Adeltra.)

skill dem 2/3

the devil is & always will

Sven couldn't help but smile as Ravenna informed Adeltra that he was a very good hunter. The decision to begin hunting for his packmates during his second year had certainly been pivotal in many ways. Even in her decline, Elettra had done much to shape Sven into the wolf he was today. If it hadn't been a need to care for her in her twilight, he might not have taken the steps necessary to grow and mellow in enough ways to stand as a capable leader for this pack. Indeed, if left unneeded, he might very well have been consumed by the hatred that had always plagued him, and be but another black stain upon the Archer name, or even a cigarette burn in the tapestry of their family tree.

Odin then appeared, but a glance in the boy's direction made it clear that something was up. Were he a more inquisitive and impulsive man, he would have tried to dig up what was so off about it then and there. However, he simply stored the moment away in his memory, to ask more privately and tactfully later. So long as the youth had a good reason for looking so shell shocked, as Sven would expect, as a wolf who'd lost an eye as a child and was raised by Morganna and Craw was not one he'd expect to be of delicate constitution, he wouldn't mind if Odin felt the need to sit this out.

No further approaches were made, and it seemed it would just be four or five of them. Well enough. Even if one of the bucks escaped, the pack would have quite the feast on their paws with the other.

"Both of them movin' is too risky. We should end one of them quick, then we can incapacitate the second and let Addy finish it herself."

It was impossible that two panicked and connected bucks would be able to outrun the pack, and even with one dead the weight of it would slow the second down unless their antlers then dislodged. They could take a moment to be careful. Sven stepped forward, expecting Leotie and Ravenna to join him.

"The left one," he decided, pinpointing the one that appeared to be the most worn from their mutual struggle before surging forward. If all went according to plan, they would strike quickly and then withdraw to reassess the situation. All they needed to do was open their prey up wide enough to swiftly bleed him out, as it was unlikely they'd be able to safely take the extended time to crush his windpipe or sever his spine.

be a gentleman.

hunt 2/3

Ravenna was silent all the while, watching as Sven and Leotie spoke on about training Adeltra on hunting. Surely she knew her way around a hare, gopher or any similar rodent, but taking down larger prey was not something you usually could do on your own unless the prey was horribly injured. This took tact, took patience in waring the animal down and, of course, took teamwork from your pack mates.

Odin arrived then, silently sticking around and she offered a wave of her tail in greeting to her nephew, one of the only children of her sister she knew on a personal level.

Sven made the decision, leading the hunt in demonstration for Adeltra. It was an opportunity to get a hands on look at how they took out the first bull before she would be able to work with the second, should everything go according to plan.

Sven surged forward and Ravenna followed, taking the other side of the buck he had picked out to be their first victim, the one seemingly the most warn, the male who would have lost this battle had it not been for them becoming so locked together like this. She snaps, all growls and barred jaws, trying to find a good placement to strike before doing so. She took a placement along its back end, away from the hoofing off the second deer.

(This post was last modified: Jul 22, 2018, 12:53 PM by Ravenna.)