Gods damn it! Larkspur cursed in their mind, watching the deer slip free. They were almost tempted to try again but they felt like it would be tempting fate. They shot an apologetic look toward Reed, intending explain their actions behind chasing away their meal only to blink as the burly wolf took off. it seemed instinct had gotten the better of her and Larkspur obligingly followed from a slight distance - the bark-brindled wolf was muscular yes, but she was muscular in a slender, wire-y way. Their muscles had been trained to handle the straight of flight and ensuring they could breath well enough in the sky, the core strength to keep their hindlegs held out behind them for miles without lowering them. What they did not have were the powerful jaws to sink into the thickened neck of larger prey like deer or elk, hence when they hunted, they played the role of a flanker.
Seeing the deer come a halt confused the lithe wolf but given their hungering state, with a determined (if soft) snarl, they pulled just ahead enough be capable of snapping at the deer's hocks and added a pinch of fear for good measure.
With any luck, it'll try to escape toward Reed.
---
Larkspur is trying a feigned attack to scare the deer toward someone who could actually bring it down haha.
Success - the deer is started by their presence and stumbles over their hooves, rushing toward Reed
Failure - the deer is startled by the presence and lashes out, managing to kick them in the face -2H
Character Diceroll 1: Success Diceroll must be above 500 to be successful.
0 was added for Deception.
553 was added for Level 1.
0 was added for A. No Enchantment.
3 was deducted for C. Vagrant Penalty.
To Reed's sudden disbelief the deer had, in fact, stopped running from her. Reed had been taken so off guard by the response of the creature that her clumsy sprint had slowed even further. Larkspur, thankfully, was there to shake her of her shock. The brindle wolf bolted past and rushed at the smaller deer's flank. Just as Larkspur had shaken Reed awake, she had also startled the deer into moving once more as well. The ungulate bolted forward and was headed directly back towards Reed. Her instincts took her once more as she braced herself, her lips pulling backwards in a hungry growl.
She waited, tensed, and when she felt the moment was right, she sprung forward towards the deer and leapt after it. She reached for its throat and prayed to Tyr and Mar that her grab would find hold. She hoped that if she did, her body weight from her leap would be enough to drag the prey to the ground and hold it steady. She closed her eyes as she braced and waited for the impact. If she didn't succeed, she knew that the deer would get away and they would continue to go hungry. The pressure was on and she was worried that she was going to crack.
Reed leaps at the deer to knock it down so Larkspur can finish it off while she holds it! No need to roll.
Success: She grabs the small deer and drags it to the ground. Larkspur has the perfect opportunity to finish it off!
Failure: Reed leaps at the deer and trips over her own feet, falling short as she trips. The deer gets away.
Character Diceroll 1: Success Diceroll must be above 500 to be successful.
0 was added for Dexterity.
555 was added for Level 4.
0 was added for A. No Enchantment.
0 was added for A. No Buff / Penalty.
Larkspur's pawsteps had slowed down when the deer flinched back toward their larger hunting partner, relief flooding through them. Good, they would be eating then. They weren't expecting the other wolf to go for a full tackle at the flank rather than go at the creature with their teeth. Well, that was Larkspur's fault for assuming the other wolf had been raised in a traditional pack rather than something new and different - it wouldn't make instinctive sense to someone not raised in that environment to look at Larkspur and immediately know 'killing blows are not for them.'
Still, they did their best.
Picking up the pace once more in the face of the struggling prey trying to squirm its way free from the other wolf's grasp. They were more than a bit awkward in the way they attempted to imitate the movements of the wolves usually responsible for bringing down big game, they're fairly certain they didn't get a good grip but for once it didn't matter. Their teeth closed around the creature's throat and the wolf pressed and pressed and pressed until finally-
Crunch.
Immediately the brindled wolf released their quarry, drawing their tongue across their muzzle with a pleased shake.
"Finally - I was ready to bury this memory," the wolf groaned, working their jaw a little bit. "Sorry for scaring it the first time."
Success! Her teeth found hold and promptly sank down into tender flesh to secure it's grasp. Success! They had done it! They would eat, and she would keep her promise to her new friend! Reed opened her emerald eyes and realized that she was staring at the ass of the deer, and not it's bottom jaw or neck. Oh dear. She'd landed her bite, but she'd landed it all in the wrong spot!
Even so, she quickly tried to make the most of it. She clenched her jaws harder, locking them in place, and tried to find footing beneath herself as the deer desperately tried to fight her grasp and yank away to flee. Lucky for the pair, the deer was small. Reed was able to twist her body around as it tried to drag her and secure her hold as she felt her paws dig down against the rocky soil. Her grip slid for a moment, but then sank in firm when she found a patch of soil gathered from years of winds blowing it up the banks from the river.
Larkspur was there to rescue Reed and her failed attempt at taking it's neck. The three of them fought for a moment before a snap was heard and the life of the deer drained from its essence. Reed didn't let go until she was sure every last spasm was used by the body. Larkspur apologized to her suddenly. "Larkspur! Ya don't gotta apologize. You were amazing! You're so quick an' agile! I felt like I was the one ruinin' the hunt. I'm not very good at it. Us pirates usually just fish up what our nets catch in the sea." Reed panted as she licked her jaws, cleaning her face of the blood and saliva.
"Before we eat, lemme do somethin' first." Reed asked, then stood, shook, and turned to search the bank for a pebble. There were plenty and it took mere seconds for her to find one she liked and return with it. She approached the body and placed the pebble on the deer's side, lower down on the chest where it's heart might be. "Thank you, Tyr, for the gift of this chance to hunt, and Mar, for the strength to bring it down. May it's soul sail free." Reed waited a moment, then looked up to Larkspur. "Ok. I'm done. Go ahead an' eat. I'll keep watch. Once you're done, I'll take my turn. We can leave the rest for the others and maybe get some actual sleep." She yawned as she finished her final word, stretching the word long.
Ooc: Seems like a good spot to end it if you'd like to give us an exit the next post.
Larkspur obligingly paused when requested, watching curiously as the brawny wolf wandered off and returned with a pebble. They weren't too surprised when this was followed by a prayer, though the names listed intrigued them - they hadn't heard either of those names before. Tyr and Mar? The words used in the prayer didn't lend much indication to what the domains of either divine was either - gods of the hunt were the first thoughts to flicker through their head, but perhaps it was a god of the wilds? Larkspur had encountered many forms of worship and various pantheons in their journeys as a lone-wolf, occasionally finding themself swayed one way or the other about them. Now it seemed their new friend would be adding a new set of names to what they know.
"Sure," Larkspur agreed, allowing themself to sink back to their belly. Hm, this was the third time in so much time that Reed had elected to give them priority - they made a mental note to keep an eye on that. They'd not had the privilege of being close to a creature like that before but they had heard stories - stories enough to know that they should look out for her. If only so she doesn't become the subject of a noble sacrifice of some sort. "And while we eat, maybe you can tell me who Mar and Tyr are."
Renewed energy flittered through Reed when Larkspur inquired about her gods. She loved them and held them dear to her. It was in those beliefs that she managed to make her journey through life, and with them that she conquered each wave as they crashed against her hull. She settled down into a lay with her legs stretched out to her side while her two front limbs held her up. "Mar is the mother, the sea and the moon. She controls the tides and holds back Tyr's might with her powerful waves. Tyr is her lover, the land, and the sun who can never gaze upon his beloved's beauty. They balance one another, always pushing to make the other stronger. That's why we make our homes on the beaches, where we can be close to each of 'em."
Reed remained patiently waiting for Larkspur to finish their meal. Once they gave the inclination, Reed moved forward to eat. After she'd eaten a satisfying portion, she settled back onto her haunches, yawning. With a full belly, an exhausting hunt, and sleep lulling her to rest, she worried she'd be unable to stay up to watch Larkspur's back. "Hey Larkspur? I'm sorry to ask this, but is there a chance you could take the watch? It's been a really long day, and the meal sits heavy. I know I told you I'd take first watch... I'm sorry." She hated not upholding her word.
