before i go

ooc; before he is at elkshire's border. for @Grumble
 

He had been stalking the sheep since entering the Grasslands. Now, it moved to the Grove. Perhaps it was aware of his presence, but it was alone and had no herd members to help. If this is what it had in mind, leading him to the Grove, he assumed it thought the location was more protective. The Grasslands were flat and traversed easily. This place had twigs and branches underfoot. Easier to trip.

But Bran was patient. He had met Edith around here twice, so it stood to reason that another of Elkshire could very well be around too. A good impression it would make if he could take down food and bring it to their border... Assisting another that could vouch for him. Ironically, it was not Elkshire he happened to run across but another pack member. The smell of them reminded him of blood. Iron-like. Be this a personal preference or a pack scent, he did not know.

He had not run into any Nightwalkers before now.

While he did not need the hunt from anyone else, the sheep would go free if not careful. He glanced to the side, spotting the wolf among the shadows. He huffed lowly to alert them; the sheep was coming toward them.

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It was not so often for Grumble to travel this far from the lands for hunts. The further she was, the more effort was needed to bring back food. And unlike a lot of wolves, she almost always hunted alone. Not really by choice per say, her pack was just more aloof with their time and there were not as many hunters as there could be. That was okay though! It meant more praise for herself. Even if... she hadn't been getting as much lately as she wanted... Life was hard here and those that were kinder to her and abide by her desired antics did often not live long. Kindness wasn't a strength in her pack unfortunately.

With no luck found in the Hazy Pastures, she looped around the hills into the woods that led to Sundance Grove. Perhaps better opportunities awaited. Her nose soon found success, the smell of ungulates, sheep, but whether they were big-horned or thinned-horned was the question. Yet she was always willing to take the risk for food, saliva already accumulating from anticipation.

After tracking in well-mannered stealth with surprising discipline, she would find a singular specimen, a big-horned ram. Likely this was a young independent ram having been or looking to challenge for his own herd. Something was not right though...out of place was the better way to describe it. Her eye caught the movement of fur drifting among wilting leaves. Another wolf on the same hunt, eye-contact made; he did not seem to be challenging. If anything, he was showing signs of cooperation. Causing the somewhat lonely wolf to wag her tail and almost do a happy spin and ruin the very hunt. HUNTING BUDDY OH YEAH! It had been ages since she had any. With a dumb smile she got to work, lurking in the shadows.

She crept around and darted out with a snarl and charge. Her aim was to run the sheep back to the other stranger. She was willing to put all her eggs in a basket for another, being a simple and stupid trusting creature.
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If this one wasn't careful, the sheep would... Fuck it. He lunged.

Bran was aware of the woman's excitable efforts. The sheep was too. She displayed foolish behavior and he didn't trust her to take the prey down alone. Thankfully, she had the sense to drive it toward him. He hadn't been overly eager to ruin or end the hunt so soon, but she seemed to startle the sheep. It ran. He rushed out prematurely, though the prey hadn't seen him. It eyed the woman and darted when she lunged at it. 

It came right at him, into his jaws.

Bran immediately reacted on instinct, latching his powerful jaws around the sheep's throat. He crunched, and it bled. Bleated in panic, alerting the other prey animals to the wolves before it died in his grasp. His throat and some of his chest bled with the animal's blood. He huffed through the sheep's throat before lowering the body. Sloppy. He could have done better. He said nothing at first, gathering his strength inwardly.

Just let it go. Even if her immaturity burned into his mind. He eyed her briefly before beginning to divide the food. Fine, fine... He could try to be nice. She could have some of it. Even if he did most of the work.

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