Bagre

The large, black-pelted wolf moved across the land with his chocolatey-brown eyes surveying everything they could. He hadn't seen his parents or sister for a while, and wasn't sure where they had gone too.

Cavan

The badly scarred wolf was on his way searching for food when he came across Bagre's scent. Doesn't seem like he's part of a pack.. at least, it doesn't smell so Cavan thought to himself while heading directly for the larger brute. After getting a few yards away from him, Cavan gave a short, friendly bark to attain the other's attention.

Bagre

He stopped in his search and gave Cavan a curious look, "Who might you be? I don't believe we've met..." The wolf stated, but could see that Cavan didn't mean harm. Besides, Bagre was rather confident in his large size. "I"m Bagre."

*Deer*

A deer grazed closeby. It was a doe. Her ears twitched at the sound of the wolves. She thought it was just the grass. The doe had wandered far away from her family.

Cavan

"Name's Cavan." He replied, looking a bit smug now. Then his nose twitched and his head was titled upward, "Say, do you smell that? Deer." Cavan look to Bagre, a grin etched on his scarred muzzle, "How would you like to share quick hunt together?"

Bagre

He cocked his head to the side, studying this stranger and the strange aray of old wounds he had on his face. That creepy bleached eye made his imagination wonder as well, but Bagre held off on the questions that began to buzz around his head. Mentally shaking the thoughts away, he nodded to Cavan, "Two hunt better than one; why not." Bagre replied in a cheerful voice, now catching the deers' scent as well. Padding briskly away, Bagre headed for the group.

Tinedal, Liethel, Mhry, Juniper, & Vlar

A fallow buck came mincing across the windy land with four hinds in tote. Liethel and Mhry were both Axis deer, while Juniper and Vlar were reds.

"I must rest." Panted Liethel, who's muzzle was heavily coated with white and gray. Even the rest of her fur was faded in color, looking more dusty, while the once prominent white spots were dulled and hard to see. She was eighteen years old; a very old age for her kind. The journey from their herdlands, in attempts to escape the humans and hounds, had simply exhausted her.

The other three hinds came up beside their friend as she slowly lowered herself to the ground.

Tinedal turned back, his sharp eyes scything the crested land for any sight of humans or hounds. He could neither see or scent them however, and his fears subsided a bit. "Alright, we'll rest here a bit. Be ready to get to your feet at a moment's notice though." He pointed out. Now, he was wishing he had brought another stag along to help protect the hinds. Liethel slowed them down horribly.

Bagre

The large, black-pelted wolf headed straight for the group. It was very obvious to him that one hind was old and seemed weak. Now all that there was, was to scare the stag away so the elder hind would be easy prey. Flagging his tail up and raising his hackles in sheer delight of the hunt, Bagre fell into a fast lope, his course aimed straight for the stag. His mouth hung open as his tongue lolled eagerly over his slavoring jaws. Experienced eyes watched the reaction of the group, especially the stag and the old hind.

Esprit

The young wolfess had been trying to doze off when the scent of deer come to her nares. She stood, shaking her dead, feeling groggy. But then another scent found her and she stiffened, wondering if this was a familier one or not. Yes, it was! She could smell her brother, nares now quivering intently as she strained to take it all in. Then, without wasting a moment's second, she bolted forward, feeling new shots of energy surge through her. Her heart pounded intently as she made her way to the source, hoping her long lost sibling was okay. Once she finally reached where the scent was strongest, she halted, and looked around. She spotted Bagre, and the deer, and yelped "Bagre!" She padded quickly to him, body low and tense, unsure of how to react in a situation like this. But she couldn't think of eating right now. After all, she had missed her brother. "Bagre? Where's father?" she then spoke, quietly, to not alarm the deer too much. Her tail wagged to and fro, in steady rythem with her heart.

Cavan

Cavan followed after Bagre, setting his sight instantly on the old hind. Taking up the other's charge, the wolf heads straight for the group. He pauses only briefly when Esprit comes into view, and figures quite quickly that she is some relation to Bagre. But his focuse was on the deer, and getting the old one separated.

Bagre

Bagre stopped short in his attack, flashing Cavan a look of 'I'll be there in a sec'. Then his dark orbs turned upon his sister, at first not realizing who she was. Then all at once, it came to him and he bared a wide, grinning smile, "Esprit!" The large wolf barked joyfully, patting the ground with his front paws in exclamation. As he listened to her words, a twinge of sorrow past his expression, "I was hoping I could ask you that. And what of mother?" Bagre returned the question, and glanced to the deer, making sure none were charging his way.

Esprit

Esprit sent a brief glance to Cavan, recognizing him from the past. He had been one that had been in on stealing their sister, Eventine. She snorted lightly, but then focused hard on Bagre again, a twinge of happiness and sorrow making their way into her heart. She drew in a deep breath, though she knew their mother was alright. "Mother is back at the territory, somewhat mourning... She fears everyone, including you and sis and father, are dead." she said, relaxing her poofy tail on the ground behind her. "I left, to find you all." she then said, finishing what was important and needed to be said. Then, ducking lower, she whispered, "Don't you know who that is?"

Tinedal, Liethel, Mhry, Juniper, & Vlar

Tinedal turned to the wolves and lowered his splayed antlers defensively. "Stand back!" The fallow bellowed angrily, scraping the ground with his ebony hooves. He desperately wished now that another stag had been brought along in his group.

The hinds clustered together, shaking and scared. Mhry and Vlar nudged Liethel, trying to get the tired hind to her feet.

Bagre

Bagre lowered his head shamefully and pulled his ears back a touch, "I should go back there. I planned to strike out on my own... but, I can't abandoned mother like that. Not if everone else has vanished." He admitted, wishing he knew where the others were. Little did he know that Eventine was about to start a new family of her own!

Bagre turned sharply to Tinedal, bristling his fur and snarling in warning to the stag. He held his ground though, while turning questioning eyes to Cavan. "I thought something looked familiar about him... do you know?" Bagre wasn't a daft wolf, but his memory was a bit lapsing here and there, about his growing up years. But those scars and that creepy eye did stir a memory in his mind.

Esprit

Esprit felt ashamed of herself. She had left on her own, for a short while, to explore and maybe even find a mate. She had no success, but she planned to in the future. "I had gone out on my own too... A while back. It wasn't very long though. I hoped I would find a mate, but yet no luck. Anyway, that is that one wolf who had stolen Eventine back when we were all pups. Remember?" she asked quizically, but yet wanting him to get the thought back. He couldn't exactly be trusted, at least in Esprit's mind. She was of her own free will. She knew she had a right to believe what she wanted to, and what she desired to do, free of charge. As long as she wasn't in a pack, but yet she knew that their mother didn't have such strict rules. She waited for Bagre's answer, hoping he could dich out the memory.

Cavan

Cavan didn't notice all their whispering, nor did he recognize the two from their pup forms. Instead and danced lightly to the side of Tinedal and bared his fangs eagerly at the stag, "Want a piece of me? Go on, try to catch me!" Cavan snarled and started to run again, making for a wide circle around Tinedal, trying to get in between him and the hinds.

Bagre

He looked hard at the other wolf now, his brows furrowing as he did so, "....yeah... hey, I do remember him now!" A faint growl came with his words and he turned back to his sister, "How about we turn the tables then? Lets steal his meal." Bagre grinned, wondering if Esprit would take up the offer. "We could bring some meat back for mother too; I'm sure she'd be happy to see us."

y Esprit

Esprit sent another glance to Cavan and narrowed her eyes before turning them back to her brother. She nodded lightly, hoping not to attract any unwanted attention from the old stranger, and family enemy. "Yes, indeed... We can steal and haunt him. That sounds quite fun? So, we'll help him first, and then take the food and beat it! Anyway, I can't wait to see Eventine! I am planning on searching for her sometime soon. I wish she were here." she said, angling herself so that she could be facing Cavan and Bagre at once. She growled low and deep within her throat, showing she disapproved of his past actions against their family.

Tinedal, Liethel, Mhry, Juniper, & Vlar

Tinedal wheeled about, kicking up the loamy soil with his hooves. Head lowered, he charged straight for Cavan now, attempting to catch the wolf on his antlers and toss him; or at least give him a good gouging.

Liethel finally came to her feet, shivering with fear and cold at this attack. The others still gathered tightly around, but they looked as though they were about to run, despite Tinedal's best efforts to keep the wolf at bay.

Bagre

He grinned widely, his eyes narrowing in a devilish degree. "Lets do this." Then he turned towards the deer, watching Tinedal go for Cavan. Instantly Bagre rushed for the unguarded hinds, aiming to leap at Liethel and take her by the neck.

Tinedal, Liethel, Mhry, Juniper, & Vlar

Liethel thrust forward, forcing her weary legs to move her old body. But the cold, fear, and worn joints couldn't hold up with such a sudden burst of energy. The axis hind fell just as the wolf's jaws closed about her neck. Crying out and landing heavily on her side, she struck her hooves feebly at her attacker.

Tinedal swerved away from Cavan after hearing his friend's cry. "RUN!!!" He barked sharply, seeing Liethel get taken down. "RUN, RUN!!!" Now his hooves beat thunderingly against the ground as they carried him to Bagre, aiming to catch up this wolf now.

The other hinds hesitated at first, not wanting to leave their friend. But it was a painful fact for the deer that running was their best defence. They couldn't save Liethel; they had to run. Juniper struck her hooves out as she ran, trying to catch the wolf in the jaws before she and the others ran.

Cavan

Cavan swerved sharply away from Tinedal when the stag first rushed upon him. But the moment the deer turned for Bagre, Cavan struck for him. Putting on a great burst of speed, the marred wolf lunged for the stag's side, trying to drag his keen fangs along the tender haunch.

Bagre

Bagre relished in the taste of blood as his fangs dug into her neck. He bit as deep and hard as he could before releasing and jumping clear of her dangerous hooves. At the same time, he spotted Tinedal coming for him, and dodged down and to the side, trying to avoid his antlers. "Esprit! It's down, it's ours!" he cried out triumphantly, hoping that his bite was enough to kill, or at least severely wound the old hind.

Tinedal, Liethel, Mhry, Juniper, & Vlar

Tinedal swerved about with Bagre, still trying to catch the wolf up. But before he could do that, a biting pain ripped across his lower flank. Pulling back, Tinedal kicked at Cavan and then swung his tired head to smash his tines into the wolf's flesh.

Liethel staggered to her feet, her head low and eyes blazing wearily. Blood trickled down her dusty coat from the punctures in her neck, and also came from her nose and mouth. The hind took a few steps forward before collapsing with a sigh. Her legs kicked out again, then her head slumped to the ground. In a few minutes, her body lay still in death.

The rest of the hind were fleeing for their lives, their minds overrun by fear and instinct that had kept their kind alive and thriving for thousands of years.

Bagre

Instead of going for Tinedal's exposed throat, Bagre held back a satisfied grin as he watched the stag attack Cavan. Pretending not to see his predicament, the large wolf headed towards Liethel. "Esprit! Lets feast." He howled out, excitement flowing through him. Not bothering with the other deer or Cavan, Bagre set into his meal with relish, tearing at the still warm flesh and bolting down great chunks of meat.

Cavan

Cavan sprang akwardly back, getting his side grazed and bruised by the swinging tines. Plunging out of the deer's way, Cavan dashed a few yards from Tinedal and bristled his fur, glaring vemonously at the buck. His body was low and his tail stiff and pulled up at the end. He was ready to tangle with this creature, but would rather leave him and get to the meal.

Tinedal, Mhry, Juniper, & Vlar

Tinedal went to charge Cavan, but the pain in his leg made him stop. And moreso, he could hear the hinds racing further and further away. His eyes glanced painfully towards his fallen mother and he felt an angry twist in his gut. But he could do nothing for her now. Tossing his head, Tinedal turned from the wolves and sprinted after the hinds, ready to led them home.

Bagre

Bagre stood over the felled hind, basking in the sweet scent of her blood, knowing that it meant food for him and his sister. And also, a chance to pay Cavan back for stealing Eventine. Puffing his his thick ruff, the large wolf glared towards Cavan, "Now back off, you low-life! You tried to steal my sister once, and I won't have you near my family any more!"

Namir

The cougar was getting desperate now, for an easy meal. He needed to feed his mate and new cubs. When the scent of deer and blood came to him, Namir picked up his pace and followed the scent until it led him to Bagre standing over Leithel. Smirking, the feline strolled casually closer to the deer. "I'll be taking this, thank you." He said, baring his curved fangs and unsheathing his deadly claws.

Bagre

Bagre bristled his fur up, snarling wrathfully at Namir, "This is our kill! Back off, cat!" He was large for a wolf, but even his size was no match against a cougar. Still, he would do his best to defend the kill for him and his sister.

Namir

Namir came closer still, "Ha!" he laughed, "You gonna make me back off, hot-shot?" The cougar was very amused with the wolf, but he didn't want to take long in getting the meal to his family. Without warning, he swung a paw at Bagre, aiming to catch him along side the head and rake his curved claws across the wolf's flesh.

Cavan

Cavan glared hard at Bagre and Esprit, "Have it your way!" he growled heatedly, then offered a faint smirk, "Three might drive off a cougar, but good look with just the two of you!" Turning tail, the wolf stalked away to find food elsewhere.

Bagre

Bagre scrambled back with a yelp. Four long cuts lined the side of his face, beading with blood that began to drip to the snow below him. He was terribly infuriated now, but couldn't think of any good comebacks to throw at Cavan. Instead, he snarled at Namir, "Fine, take it!" Really, there was no use in argueing with such a powerful creature, unless he wanted to get torn to shreds. Bagre retreated back to his sister and shook his head, "Looks like we'll have to find lunch elsewhere." Sighing glumly, Bagre headed off to find a new place to hunt.

Namir

Namir grinned broadly, "A wise choice, wolf. Thanks for dinner." He carefully took hold of Leithel's neck and slowly but steadily dragged her away. It was a laborous task, but he was a powerful cat.