Heartleaf Creek Are We There Yet?

It took a conscious effort to not pursue the rabbit at full tilt, as he would have had to do on his own. He was not alone, though. Hunting with others had been an incredibly rare event in the months since he had parted from his family, and was probably something Al would have to grow accustomed to once more. It was not a transition he expected would be difficult, but simply one he would have to be aware of.

With the rabbit moving on track towards Avella, he had little else to do but ensure it did not dart off. And once they were within range, the other struck a precise blow, scooping the hare up in her grasp. Alarick slowed his pace to a casual lope as he circled back around to face the other.

”That worked well. It is nice to hunt with someone else, again, too,” he admitted with a wry grin, before casting another look upwards. Those vultures were still there, and he could not be certain if their attention was on he and Avella, or not. ”I am curious as to what else might be out there, though.” It seemed like it would be worth a bit of their time to find out if there was something else out there to add to their current meal, too.

It felt like everything had been timed perfectly as her jaws clamped around the rabbits neck. There hadn't been any perfectly laid out plans to ensure the capture of their prey. Avella was somewhat surprised but thankful that everything had worked out so perfectly. Now they would have something to eat before settling down for the night. All she thought after that was that she and Alarick made a rather good team

With dinner secured for the both of them she lifted her head to meet the others words. "It worked out very well," she agreed, "Its too bad you haven't had others to hunt with. Your quite good working in a team." Though the rabbit wasn't a loot for either of them she thought it would tide them over until they reached the willows.

However, Alarick brought up the vultures they'd both noticed. She looked up at the mention of them tonsee that they were still there. Her mismatched gaze returned to him as he made a not so subtle suggestion. "It could be more food that we don't have to catch this time. We could go find out if you're up for it?" What if it was something really good.

Working with someone else during this hunt, reminded him just a little bit of how life had once been. Even more so, since it would quite possibly become a common thing, once more. Avella agreed that the hunt had worked well, and added on an observation - or a possible compliment, that left his ears turning back slightly in a display of humility.

”Same for you,” he offered, closing the distance between himself and the other. ”I do miss that, about pack life - working with a team. I.. really look forward to hunting with the others, too, when we have the opportunity.” Alarick felt a new sort of energy within him merely at the thought. That had once been his role, after all. It would be rather nice if he could find his way back into that same role, here.

Avella also seemed agreeable to the notion of at least finding out what else was out there, if anything. It was possible the vultures had been privy to their intentions, but a look was well worth the time. ”It cannot hurt to take a look, to make sure. The more knowledge we have, if even for future opportunity, the better,” he spoke. Avella was right - they did not necessarily have to hunt something this time, but knowing about an opportunity for the next time, was beneficial too.

Hers was an incredibly practical insight. And at that, Al found his respect for his potential future leader growing further.

Avella always did like it when things like hunting turned out successful. She accepted when they weren't but she wasn't one to like losing very much. So while it was just a little Hare she was pretty happy that they had caught it. She especially liked the idea that they wouldn't have to go to sleep hungry. She'd done that before and it had never been pleasant nor had it helped her the following day. She smiled when Alarick praised her as well.

"Thank you," she said accepting his compliment. "And hopefully we will have plenty of chances to hunt as a team. As long as the herds are in out favor." She hoped that they could keep their caches full so that there was never a time they would have to worry about if they had enough food or not.

Finding out what had attracted the vultures seemed like an opportunity that they really shouldn't pass up. So she'd thrown it out that they could go and check it out. See what was out there and if it was worth taking. Maybe they would find something they could take back to Willow Ridge for the others.

"No, it can't hurt at all," she agreed, "It looks like they are off this way," she said indicating the direction it looked like the birds were gliding above. She picked up their catch and started in that direction.

Alarick offered an enthused nod at the agreement offered by Avella. Hunting as a team would be a pleasant experience, but a bonding one, as well. As long as, the other pointed out, the herds were in their favor. ”I.. used to keep track of prey movement, at home. Once I am more familiar with these areas, I could begin doing that here, too, so you have one less thing to worry about,” the former hunter offered tentatively, figuring now as good a time as any to offer a bit more about himself, and his role, from before.

Avella was certainly capable of doing it, she had already proven that. Hopefully, the request would not offend his future leader. Al hoped only that he might be able to lessen the burden of responsibilities on her, and allow her to focus on the other things.

As difficult as it was to determine exactly what the vultures were after, though, it did appear that Avella was on the right track - if there was one. Scanning the area, Alarick’s attention was drawn to something that stood out in the snow.

”Look, there,” he spoke, angling himself forward. A trail of crimson dotted the otherwise pure white snow and did not appear to be from that long ago, either. The prints accompanying the trail looked to belong to an undulate that had been injured by something else, and possibly severely enough that the vultures deemed it worth their attention.

Alarick did not even think he would need to ask, before beginning to follow the trail. Based on what he had seen so far, he was pretty sure he knew what his possible future alpha would say.

(This post was last modified: Feb 12, 2022, 09:03 PM by Alarick.)

Avella wondered what their first pack hunt would be like. That was something she would have to plan as soon as she could, a nice team building exercise. That would be made easier by what Alarick offered next. She smiled at the man, "That sounds like a fine idea. It will certainly help out not only me but the rest of the pack as well." She thought it woikd be good for Alarick to have something to work toward once they reached the Willows. She hoped that would ensure that he would stay with them since she liked him a lot and felt he would be a nice addition to her pack.

There would be so much more to do once they were officially a pack. She had been so caught up trying to find members that she hadn't really given that much thought. It was time though she would heed to figure it all out. Avella was aware that a smooth running pack was a successful pack.

They'd followed what little trail they had to find out what the vultures were interested in. She was pretty curious at that point and wished they'd find it already so that she could satisfy that curiosity. What if they did find something worth keeping. She hoped that they might be able to take some of it home.

Her attention was brought to where Alarick was looking. She could easily see the blood trail in the snow. Looking closer she also saw the hoof prints. "It can't be too much further," she commented. It was clear that it was some kind of hoofed animal that was injured pretty badly. Maybe it would be their lucky day. She glanced up at the sky, they may have to fight the vultures off though.

Alarick started following the trail and Avella was right behind him. She wondered how much further they would have to go. The amount of blood seemed to increase the further they went.

Thankfully, Avella agreed to his suggestion, and Al would make certain to begin doing exactly that after he had a few days to rest. It meant he would actually have a job, a role, and a purpose again, beyond just trying to keep himself alive. Further reason and motivation to push himself, and others he would hopefully be able to count on to have his back.

”I will start as soon as I can, once we arrive, then.” Alarick confirmed aloud for his companion, with a nod of appreciation towards her for granting the request as they walked. The other was correct though, in that whatever they were tracking presently could not be too much further ahead. As they continued, the presence of crimson on the snow grew, and the amount of space between the ungulates steps grew smaller. Alarick also noted scrapes across the snow, as if it were dragging a limb, slowing down, getting weaker.

Al slowed too, eyes scanning through the trees ahead of them, and eventually locking on to movement. The white-tailed deer ahead of them seemed to clearly be the source of this trail. Its movements were sluggish, and it appeared to favor one leg as he had suspected. It also looked to have other injuries along that flank, severe enough that he doubted it would be very hard or take very long for even just the two of them to finish it. But he also could not help but wonder why whoever, or whatever other creature had initiated this, had not finished the job.

Perhaps they had been hurt, too, in the process? Struck by a kick, as ungulates were so fond of doing? They could only speculate. To him, it seemed like a waste to pass such an opportunity, and he suspected his company would feel the same, but again, he did not feel it was his choice to make or his place to assume that. Fixing his gaze on Avella, he bowed his head slightly in deference to her judgment. ”I think.. we should go for it. But, I am with you, whatever you decide to do.”

Things seemed to really be falling into place where the pack was concerned. Now that Alarick was volunteering for the position to keep an eye on the herds it felt like things were becoming more solid. He'd volunteered for the duty and that whether he knew it or not meant quite a lot to the Archer woman. The fact that it was something that she wouldn't have to do was certainly a plus but she was seeing more and more the kind of man he was. She was glad that she'd offered him a place in her pack.

"That will be perfect. A pack hunt will be good for all of us too. A way for us to start working together. Not just during hunts but in other ways too." That's what she hoped for with the wolves that she and Scully had put together. She wanted them to work as a cohesive group always. Avella was optimistic that she would get her either in time. She was excited to see the kind of pack they would end up being. She was hoping for a sort of family kind of situation where they all took care of each other.

The movement through the trees also caught her eye. She too saw what they were up against a very injured deer that in Avella's opinion didn't have much left in it. After the amount of blood that it had already lost and the injuries she could see on the animal it wasn't looking very good.

The masked woman followed its sluggish movements with her mismatched gaze. It was clear that this deer wouldn't put up much of a fight. Then there was the fact that it was in obvious pain. There was only one thing they could do in this situation. End its life so others could live. Alarick spoke to her causing her gaze to leave the deer and turn to him. "I don't think we have much of a choice," she stated, "Its what's best all around."

A pack hunt would be good for all of them, Al thought in agreement. It would be fun to hunt with the others, and be a good way of judging just how cohesive and skilled the group was. If the others were even half as formidable as Avella had proven to be so far though, Alarick did not think he had to worry about that at all.

The question that lingered in his mind though, was whether or not they could truly take the place of his family. For now, he was excited to be a part of this. To help Avella and the others achieve their goals and dreams. But would it be enough for him in the long term? That was the question.

His leader spoke that she did not believe they had much of a choice as it pertained to the deer though. Going after it was best. And it made the most sense, he thought. Al could not contain the wry grin that flashed across his countenance at that, though. Another opportunity to hunt with someone, twice in one day. Even if this deer would not pose much of a challenge, it was still an exciting thought.

He tipped his head again to the other, acquiescing to her statement. ”Agreed. On your go, then.” He spoke, fixing his eyes on their new target. Electric energy seemed to surge through his body, down to his very paws, in anticipation.

Avella hoped that they could get a pack hunt set up as soon as possible. With Alarick scouting out the prey in the area she felt that might be something that could be arranged more quickly. She wanted to have everything moving along smoothly and as cohesively as possible. She wanted her pack and the wolves in it to be the best that they could be.

Now with the question of what to do about the deer laid in front of her Avella debated in her mind. She had finally come to the conclusion that they needed the deer to eat and the deer shouldn't suffer any further. It's injuries and the amount of blood it was losing made it clear the deer wasn't going to survive whatever had happened to it.

She shared her thoughts with Alarick though not to the extent that she'd gone through them in her mind. That much wasn't necessary in this situation. All he needed to know was the conclusion that she'd come to. Which was that they should take the deer down for everyone's benefit. It wasn't like it would be very hard, she doubted it would put up much of a fight.

Alarick agreed and stated that they would move on her go. She nodded as she looked to the deer one more time. Once again she told herself that this was fir the best before speaking the simplest of words, "Go," she stated clearly before moving towards the deer. She approached carefully at first knowing that deer in such a situation could make one last ditch effort to defend themselves.