Title: A great hunt! Synopsis: Cutter leads a band of Lostholters and guests in search for fresh meat for the tribe and, boy, do they find it! The hunt ends with a storm harrying the hunters back to the holt. Logged by: NorthWind ----- Base of the Lost Holt Father Tree Cutter chuckles at both females, **I'm good enough with the bow but, not as good as Strongbow.** He finishes looking over the arrows and tucks them all back into the quiver then he picks up his bow and checks it over for any signs of wear. He gives the bowstring a tentative tug then nods, satisfied that all is in proper order. He then turns to look at Yun from his spot at the base of the Father Tree, **So, why don't we go hunting?** he asks of her, but his send includes Gem and isn't so quiet that any nearby wouldn't be able to pick up his thoughts. Yun hops to her feet, eagerness pushing away any hint of carefree. "Sounds like a perfect plan to me! We aiming for game we can take with a bow and arrow or something bigger?" Gem grins, pleased. She has not been asked directly to go on hunt since her arrival. She knows that some how that is an honor and nods avidly that she wants to go. **I'd be much happy. Yes. Can watch and learn how Wolfriders hunt. Make me more like you.** Popping his head out of the Father Tree, Treestump looks around curiously. Noticing the small group he grins ** Aye, I thought I heard something about Huntin? ** The sending not meant for anyone specific. His hand rests on his axe as he emerges fully from the Father Tree. His body language more than eager to try and fill his belly. An impish look crosses Yun's features as she makes sure she's out of Treestump's immediate reach and says, "Think you'll be able to keep up, elder?" Skyeyes slowly pads in with Shadows on his back. The plantshaper looking at the group questioningly. Gem looks at the elder elf, still in awe of his beard. She has to fight the urge to go tug on it. Instead, she just picks up one her long braids and plays with it nervously, very excited about the night. The quick reply from the Stargazers offspring forces a smirk on the old wolf's face. He simply makes a leisurely step towards Yun and says while looking mischievous "I see someone's ready to be Hunted. Aye?" he winks at her and then leans against the tree. Yun laughs and moves to dart around the tree if necessary. "The hunt of a lifetime, fuzzy cheeks." Gem trills softly, her version of laughter at the pair of elves who are obviously friends. She has only seen them in passing, never talked...so is unsure of their relationship entirely. She doesn't say anything more, just waits expectantly for the Hunt to start. Yun watches Cutter as he examines his arrows for a moment, then says, "I'll be right back." She slips out around the Father Tree. When she returns a couple of minutes later, she carries her bow and a quiver of arrows as well as a spear with a tip of troll-forged metal. Noticing the Plantshaper riding his wolf friend Treestump seems glad at the distraction. Possibly out of come backs the Old wolf stretches before sending ** Aye plant shaper. Think you can use the bow you carry? ** he grins while motioning towards the others ** Seems we may be hunting. ** Shadows speaks up softly, his voice somewhat strained. "Going hunting?" The elf gives a slight smile at Treestump and nods. ** I was one of the best archers of my holt. ** Gem nods to Shadows. **Yes, and Cutter invited me!** Another wolf appears, approaching from a different direction. The telltale russet coat quickly identifies the newcomer as Sunrest, with Northwind on his back. ** Ayooah, Lost Holters!** There is a strange exultation in the pale one's sending. She looks at the gathered elves, noticing the assorted weapons. She lifts her own spear to Yun in a silent salute. ** Do we hunt? ** Cutter looks up noticing Northwind, Shadows and Treestump entering the clearing. He smiles at the three new arrivals, **We're going hunting. Would you like to come along as well?** he asks of them. Finally satisfied with the state of his bow and arrows, he gets to his feet, slings the quivers over is back and goes still for a moment as he casts a send into the night dark forest. Yun spots Shadows and gives him a cheerful wave upon her return. Gem signals to Northwind in greeting, pleased to see someone arriving she truly knows. **Northwind, join us! I'm going to finally learn the Hunt.** Daystar, Treestump's wolf friend finally trots into the area. The wolf makes the appropriate greetings before heading over to his friend. Treestump seems happy with his wolf friends arrival and says aloud "A hunt lad? and with this famine, you thought I'd stay away?" he grins towards Cutter Shadows moves himself and his wolf closer to where Treestump is. Even his placid large wolf begins to become rambunctious at the thought of a hunt. ** Are we going soon? ** Northwind slips off Sunrest and stand beside the energetic seeming red wolf. It seems the mood of excitement is contagious. To Cutter, her answer is to twirl her driftwood spear - which she has learned to use with some effectiveness, thanks to Yun - and nod. ** That's wonderful, Gem! ** she replies with a measure of unaccustomed warmth. ** And I'll get to try my skill with the spear! ** To Treestump, she ducks a quick nod and to Shadows, another. Grinning at the lad's comment he shrugs not seeming to care when or if they go Hunting. ** You were one of the best were you? ** he pats his small ax again ** I've never been too stuck on a bow and arrow myself. ** His other hand scratching his wolf friend on top of the head and behind the ears vigorously. Ashefur comes dashing into the clearing wearing a wolfish grin. The gray wolf makes a beeline for his bond. Grinning, Cutter gives his wolf friend a good scratching before getting to the serious part of letting Ashefur know that they're going hunting. That done, Ashefur stands quietly as Cutter slips onto his back. With a vigorous "Ayooah!" Ashefur darts across the clearing, bearing the former chieftain on his back. Cutter glances back over his shoulder with a grin before Ashefur slips into the trees, **Well, what're you standing around for?** Gem doesn't have to be asked twice, she tugs her braid once more for luck, then takes off in a graceful run after Cutter, her obvious lack of wolf friend not seeming to be a problem for her. She barely makes a sound as she disappears after Cutter into the trees. Yun lifts her voice in a soft howl before she follows behind Cutter and Ashefur on foot. Treestump quickly mounts his wolf friend who is running after Cutter's bond before he is even all the way on the wolf's back. Treestump doesn't seem to be put off balance by this though. He does not reply to Cutter's mock. Cutter walks around to the back of the Father Tree. Treestump walks around to the back of the Father Tree. Sunrest barely stays still long enough for Northwind to leap back onto his back and then they're off, racing to keep up with the rest of the hunt, hearts pounding, the thrill of the chase in their blood. The Edge of the Woods Shadows races his wolf hard to catch up to Cutter's fast wolf. A smile is on Shadows' face. The pair appears quite happy. ** Faster! AYOOOOOAH!** Northwind arrives shortly after and surveys the scene, all senses alert. Yun moves as lightly through the brush of the forest as the Wolfriders who were born here. She may have started life in a vastly different environment, but she's adapted well to her chosen home. She carries her spear lightly, confidently, as she runs. Her eyes shine brightly in her face, cheeks flushed with excitement. Gem drops down onto one knee as everyone catches up with one another, not seeming winded in the least, as this is her preferred way to travel. She tilts her head slightly, seeming to be listening past her tribesmates at something. Her green-gold eyes are alert and ready for anything. Treestump seems relaxed, but still aware of his environment. He seems to be listening, or waiting for something to pop out at him. His wolf friend sniffs at the ground and sometimes lifts it's head anxious to find something to eat, and maybe better, to chase. Shadows swings around to move up near Treestump. A large smile is on his face. ** I hope we catch something. Something to fill all the stomachs. ** Northwind keeps Sunrest in the back, watching a learning. It's the first time she is in such a large hunt. She nods in agreement with Shadows' sending but remains silent herself. Cutter grins at Shadows' urging to go faster but, something catches the hunt leader's eye and he brings Ashefur to a stop. He looks at a tree off to one side of the narrow, rarely used trail that he was following. The bark has been scraped from the tree, though it isn't the mark of a stag left over from whitecold: instead, the scoring in the bark is that of claws dragged horizontally across the trunk, baring the white wood underneath. Cutter, slips from Ashefur's back and moves through the forest, padding cautiously toward the tree. Once at the base, he looks thoughtfully up at the mark wich is nearly half his height above his pale head. Yun pads softly closer to Cutter, gaze scanning the surrounding brush while Cutter examines the marks on the tree. She hefts her spear quietly, testing it's weight and balance and shifting it in her grip. Gem's gaze follows Cutter, curiously. She sees the marks and a small bit of the excitement drains out of her face. She rises up off her knee and moves to join Cutter, sniffing the air lightly as she does. She doesn't say anything, but her eyes lock on the clawmarks as well. Gem still carries no apparent weapon, but her hand does drift down to her knapsack. Treestump quirks a brow at the claw marks perhaps a smirk or perhaps a tight frown comes onto his face. His composure still relaxed as he leans forward on his wolf friend, waiting for the lead hunter to come to a conclusion. No questions asked. Shadows narrows his eyes a little. He sniffs the air when he spies the marks Cutter has found. Tilting his head a bit he looks at the former chief. ** Bear? ** Now THAT would bring food. LOTS of food. And with all the berries that have been about, it would be not be scrawny. If that IS the prey. Northwind keeps Sunrest quiet and still. The mark Cutter is looking at is frightening. A creature who could leave such a mark ... must be -huge-! Belynrath wanders through the woods towards you from the east. Cutter is standing near a tree just off of the path. It seems that the hunting party has stopped moving for the moment as the former chieftain studies several horizontal scars across the trunk of a tree. They are half again as high as he is tall and look to be fairly deep since the white wood of the tree is bared in each slash. He sniffs at the air then crouches down to look at the ground near the base of the tree before nodding to Shadows, **Yes, it's a bear... and those marks are fairly fresh.** After another moment's study, he points off into the forest, away from the narrow trail, **It went that way.** Gem's eyes follow the direction of Cutter's hand, then touches his arm. **It is very fresh. Maybe less than hour old.** Belynrath follows the sends of the wolf chief, the once Lord Lostholt. He's left that dreaded overcoat behind, thankfully, and so his noise is minimized. Sadly, the underworlder has the noise of a troll, and he approached from upwind... The gleam in Yun's eyes is not entirely wholesome and when she replies, she foregoes her usual speech in favor of sending. ** Bear's a good challenge, and a good amount of food if you can bring it down. Dangerous, though. ** Shadows growls softly, eagerly, ** I have hunted bear before. Many times. We will bring this one down. We will eat well! ** His wolf's tail bristles and a smile is clear on the plantshaper's face. Treestump quirks a brow at a scent and herms very softly possibly hearing something. Now it is definitely a smirk on his face, the current conversation not bothering him as he eyes the direction the wind comes from. He says nothing about what he figures is approaching however. A slightly distracted send responds to the Dangerous send ** Aye, any animal can be dangerous if you aren't care full, lass. ** Bear would be a good thing to hunt with a spear. And a knife. Northwind and her parents never hunted the huge, ferocious snowbears themselves, unless under extreme need. But she sends ** <> ** all the same, her wolf eager for the chase. She catches a scent that distracts her and her head comes up. ** Who? ** she demands, before she can identify the newcomer. Cutter identifies the newcomer quickly enough and after nodding in agreement with Gem he sends, **Shade, Belynrath. Have you come to hunt with us?** He grins at the others gathered round and though he wants to move after the bear quickly, he really must wait for the answer to that question. Gem is pulled out of her thoughts at Belynrath's entrance, she frowns visibly and Moves slightly away from Cutter and the tall elf. She has not seen Bely since the night she met Cirska, but she hasn't forgotten it. She looks back towards the bear "trail" and frowns again, something feeling slightly off, but keeping those thoughts to herself. Belynrath stops just at the edge of sight, far out of speaking distance. It's at the edge of polite distance for the underworld, **If I would not be in the way. My lady is easger I learn all I can, Lord Lost....** Did that slip? Ooops. His blue eyes flickers over the gathered here, studying each briefly. There's a vibrant eagerness underneath a suddenly carefully studied and controled exterior on Yun. Her gaze notes the Underworlder and she nods a greeting, but her gaze goes right back to scanning for any more signs of the bear. She looks to the former chieftain for direction and command. It's the Go- Back way. Treestump says nothing but smiles towards the underworlder seeming a bit pleased that he would come and join the hunt. his wolf friend paces slightly eager to go after the other scents in the air. The old wolf calms his bond quietly. Hmmming softly at the approach of the Underworlder and he scritches his face fur as he sends something to someone. He points back the way they came and then starts to turn his wolf friend who gives a small whimper of complaint but does what is needed, as it trusts it's elf companion. Northwind nods to the Underworlder, remembering him from when she brought Shadows the bushtail. ** Belynrath ** she acknowledges. Her attention quickly returns to the hunt, though her manner does not seem to exclude him. Treestump nods to something and frowns a bit ** Hope I get back before the rest of you find that bear. I'll be mighty angry if I dont get ta sink my blade into it! ** he seems more encouragement than true anger in his send as he starts to head back towards the holt at a medium pace and then at a fast pace. The wolf he rides isn't slow, even with his elf friends massive weight onto it. Shadows follows Cutter's lead, very intent on the upcoming target. His bow is ready, a large arrow nocked. Treestump follows the path back into the Holt. Belynrath nods to the greetings as he approaches. He sees not the tracks, **What is the prey this evening?** Yun gestures to the claw marks high on the tree trunk. ** Bear, ** she replies. Belynrath peers, his head tilted to the side, **What is Bear?** Yun sends an image of a bear, reared onto it's hind legs. The teeth gleam dangerously and the claws are wickedly curved. It's only a tiny bit exaggerated in image. Gem looks back over her shoulder, trilling slightly at Yun's image. Belynrath starts at the image, his eye narrowing. **Great Endless Chasm! It's all hair and teeth!** His shocked, he really is. There's nothing like it in his memory. Cutter chuckles at Belynrath's send, **Do you dare to help us bring it down...?** he sends with a wry grin at the younger elf. **You said you wanted to learn how to hunt... Well, you've found the perfect opportunity to do just that.** Belynrath takes a moment, then lifts his chin, **A house heir shows nofear in the face of danger. Lead the way.** Northwind glances at her hunt-mates, each seeming quite at ease and competent. She grips her spear tighter and calms her jangling nerves. Gem looks to Cutter. **I have no weapon against bear. Will have follow you and watch.** ** Fear's a useful thing in the right amounts, ** Yun sends thoughtfully. ** As long as you don't let it overwhelm you. ** She grins with eagerness. ** I look forward to the rush. ** Gem's sending alarms Northwind. Cutter turns to Gem and grins, **What do you have that sling for then? You can aim for its eyes,** he sends with a wink then turns back to Belynrath. He grins at the Underworlder as well, **You don't move quietly enough for us to get close without alerting the bear so, you'll either have to hang back until the rest of us find it or you'll have to ride.** And by that last, yes, he means ride wolfback like a Wolfrider. Her eyes dance at Cutter, having not realized he knew about her slingshot. **Alright, I only wanted make sure you knew of my limitations** Belynrath turns to look at the wolf. At nearly six feet tall, there's no way the underworld could ride the beast and be comfortable. A no-hump or zwoot, probably, but a wolf? Belynrath turns his gaze to Cutter again, **I shall lay in wait, with Gem, if she'd like, since she worries her weapons are not enough.** Shadows grins and feels his wolf prancing about beneath him. ** Let us go! or the bear may take to den. If it does then we may need you BOTH sooner then you may like. ** Cutter chuckles at Belynrath's reply, shrugs his shoulders and slips onto Ashefur's back once more. **I hope it has not been here long enough to have found a den.** he replies since that would mean that all had missed something that large moving through the forest for quite some time. He gives his bond a mental nudge and the wolf takes after the bear's trail, following it at an easy, ground eating pace. Belynrath glances about to find a place to settle until he's needed, though the waiting eats at him. Gem smiles softly to herself after Cutter's comment. She follows Cutter avidly, not hanging back as she probably should, but also not truly seeing need to in her own mind. She wants to watch them bring down the bear and refuses to be left behind. Northwind glances at Gem. After a moment's thought, she slids off Sunrest and runs beside the red-wolf. She has not yet progressed to using the spear on wolf- back. The bond mates move closer to Yun though not hampering the half-GoBack. Belynrath watches the hunting party go, leaving him behind. Rotten troll-dung! The lording kicks at a rock, and pouts beneath his mask. ** Follow at a distance, ** is Yun's open send to Belynrath as she takes off after Cutter and the others with her spear in hand. Belynrath glances up, and sneers at the open send. Damn them all. He'll get game on his own! Aren't there caves near by? With a snort, he turns on his heel and heads south. If memory serves... there's caverns. All he has to hope is that they aren't collected to the heart of the underworld. The thought of delicately tender cavebat, with spider legs and large red and green mushrooms makes his mouth water. Determined, he leaves the surface elves to their hunt, off on a hunt of his own. The small party of hunters move swiftly through the forest gaining ground on the bear. It's not long before the marks of its passage are only moments old. Cutter slows Ashefur's pace conserving the strength of his wolf friend. As the party slows, Yun lifts her face to the sky to scent the air. It's a motion more of the pure joy of the hunt than actually expecting to lead herself to the bear by her nose. Shadows narrows his eyes and slows a bit also. His expression darkens, ** It is close...** Gem slows slightly, nodding in agreement with Shadows. **Very** Northwind slows to match the lead's pace. Soon, she is stalking through the tries, Sunrest a dim, silent shape beside her. For Gem: There is, indeed an animal out there.. the feel of its mind is slow and focused on late summer berries. The thoughts are not cohesive and there is a sense that pure instinct drives this creature. Gem suddenly comes to a full stop, having suddenly found what she was looking for. She trills under her breath, no longer aware of those around her as she picks up on the bear's mind. **Berries...it's hunting berries.** The thought is more to herself, but is broadcasted around her. She leans against a tree, closing her eyes, as she is accustomed to doing when "synching" with an animal. Shadows grins, ** Berries huh? Then it is getting fat on sweets. A very good meal! ** Northwind looks at Gem as the odd sending comes. How does she know...? The pale one watches as the little redhead leans against a tree. She looks vulnerable in that pose. Yun spares a quizzical look towards Gem at the sending, but makes her way silently to Cutter's side. ** How do you want to do this? ** Cutter also wonders how Gem knows this about the bear, but, again, it is late summer and bears tend to eat themselves silly before going to ground for the whitecold. He doesn't stop Ashefur, the quarry is entirely too close. Yet, only a moment after the bear comes into sight. It is huge, shaggy and brown as the trunk of a tree. It snuffles at the base of a berry thicket eating its fill from those that are ripe. **There!** he sends and points, **Circle around and we'll attack from all sides. Gem, I'll need you somewhere safe to shoot at its eyes and keep it from hitting us with those claws.** For Northwind: There is the feeling of rain and thunder carried on the wind.. not a gentle shower but something more fierce.. something that will require shelter once it hits. Shadows turns and begins to circle around. HE tries to figure ways for him to be useful. The elf dismounts near the bushes and listens. ** Cutter....I can foul the bear's claws with the plants themselves. It should confuse it for some moments. ** As Cutter's directions come, Yun begins her silent movements through the underbrush to flank the beast. She hopes to arrange herself for a good shot with her spear at the vulnerable area beneath the foreleg of the bear when it rears up. Gem pulls out of her reverie at Cutter's direct send, and nods. She skirts around the bear, careful to stay downwind, blending herself with the forest around her. She vaults up into a nearby tree and slowly slides herself out as far on the branch as she can go. She has her slingshot in hand and several rocks cupped in her other one, ready and waiting. Northwind nods silently and begins to move in a cautious, silent arch to the other side of the bear. She draws her blade, clambering up a slight slope-- A hint of wind stirs her hair and her eyes widen. The delicate jaw tightens as she lifts her face and focuses her attention far away. The sending that comes is low and strained, as Northwind tries to stay calm and focused on the hunt, yet delivers her warning. ** We need to take him out -- fast. A storm is in the offing and we need to get back to the holt before it arrives. ** Cutter nods silently to Shadows' send, **Good. You keep him busy with that while Yun, Northwind and I flank him and Gem keeps his eyes distracted from above,** he sends in reply. Even as he sends, he creeps closer so that only a few leaves separate him from the small clearing that the bear occupies. One end is hemmed in with thick brambles which the bear is greedily eating from but, the other sides are open. Gem nods to herself, since she is up in tree and no one could see her response unless looking. Gem chitters softly, sounding very much like a squirrel and hoping to gain the bear's attention. Northwind shakes herself, trying to get rid of the pricking sensation. Focus, she thinks, continuing her circuit around the bear, as Cutter directs. Overhead, she hears a trilling that she identifies as Gem. She watches the prey, a huge, brown monster of a bear. Yes, may the holt eat well tonight. On a subliminal level, something whispers to her, go, go, go! Yun is making her way through the brush to flank the beast with her spear in hand. Years spent amongst the Wolfriders and in this very forest allow her to move in near silence. Her expression is intent, but the shine in her eyes is pure eagerness and love of the hunt. Shadows puts everything he's got into the molding of the plants around the bear's feet. He goes for strength and speed. Hands firmly entrenched in the vines and berry plants. The bear munches quietly until it notices the brambles moving about its feet, then it bawls in confusion and starts to back away. Cutter nods, slips onto Ashefur's back and sends, **Now!** as he and his bond spring from the underbrush in a blur of motion. His bow left back by the tree, Cutter draws New Moon and the moons' light glints off of the troll forged blade. "Ayooooooooah!" Gem begins to bombard the bear with rocks, hoping to keep its attention off of Cutter and the others. Her aim is very accurate and a steady hiss of rocks sail through the air at the bear's head and hears. Gem is hoping to stun and confuse it long enough for others to make the kill. Shadows moves forward focusing his magic to stop the bear from turning to fight. He picks up his bow and arrows and takes aim, preparing to fire while continuing to use his magic. Yun rises from her cover and smoothly moves into a throwing stance. The tip of her spear doesn't quaver in the slightest as she draws her arm back and launches it at her target with a smooth, practiced motion. Her aim is for a vulnerable part of the bear. Trollish bright metal gleams in the night. Northwind glances at it, startled, and then raises her own blade and her spear and plunges through the undergrowth towards the bear. She takes her stance some distance away, as Yun taught her and hurls the spear, aiming for the bear's throat. Sunrest leaps ahead then crouches, watching for a chance to spring onto the huge beast. In the midst of flying spears, Cutter dashes in under the bear's front paws as the creature rears up onto its hind legs bawling in anger and confusion. He, for the bear is male, waves his paws at the hail of stones and lets out an angry roar as the scent of elf and wolf reaches its nostrils and it takes a swipe at the darting pair. Claws rend leather and skin as if both were no thicker than moth cloth. Even as he takes a hit, one is given and New Moon draws blood at the bear's soft underbelly. Gem makes a pained cry as Cutter is struck, something that sounds like a terrified bird. She doesn't think, she just acts...she vaults from the tree to the ground, moving between the fallen Cutter and the bear. She knows the bear is fighting for its very survival right now and does not blame it for what it has done, but she will not let it take one of her new friends away. She focuses all of her abilities with animals at the bear and pulls the bear's focus entirely onto herself. She stands straight as an arrow beneath its girth, unafraid and defiant in it's path. She hurls a heavy send at the bear, one that should freeze it in its tracks, and waits to see what happens. Sunrest sees his chance. Northwind's heart lodges itself in her throat as she watches her fur-brother throw himself into the air and onto the bear's back. Her spear bounced harmlessly off the creature, unfortunately. She obviously needs more practice with the weapon. Sunrest gets a hold and sinks paws and teeth into the bear's back. It throws back its head and lets out another bellow of rage. Shadows frowns as he sees the bear breaking when he tries to fire his arrows instead of focus on the plants. He immediately drops the bow and puts his hands back on the plants, moving yet closer to the bear. He's trying to bring the bear down with the plants if he can. His own wolf worries the bear alongside Sunrest and Ashefur. Cutter and Ashefur are no longer worrying the bear, in fact, both go rolling from the force of the bear's swipe. Ashefur, takes one look at his bond then with a growl, dashes back into the fray, harrying the bear's hind legs so that it doesn't go for any of the elves around. Gem's send finally penetrates the bear's fog-ridden mind and it falls back down onto all fours. It bleeds from several wounds and has two wolves nipping around it's mass, but it just stands there...as if mesmerized. Gem moves closer, careful of the wolves herself, but within a hand's breath of the bear and continues to "talk" with it, slowly lulling the creature to its death sleep. Willing it to want to give up, to need to rest, to sleep...it pains her to do this as it goes against her way of hunting, but she is afraid if she doesn't, another of her friends will suffer the price. Finally, the bear slumps down to the ground...submitting to the elves. Yun's spear sinks solidly into the beast's upper torsoe. The rearing and dropping of the bear having left her with not quite the killing blow she'd been hoping for, judging by the rather creative cursing that comes from her direction. Cursing herself for not bringing her sword, she grabs her bow and prepares to launch an arrow at the beast, this time aiming for an eye. Shadows dives to Cutter's side once the bear appears down. There is a look of worry and he reaches out to the former chief, ** Cutter are you alright? ** Northwind cannot believe her eyes. The bear seems to have subsided and stands passively even with wolves nipping at it. Sunrest, growling, leaps off and stands a bit away, watching the creature suspiciously. Northwind hesitates briefly and then moves. Not daring to think too hard about what she's doing, she runs straight up to the bear, approaching from behind so he cannot see her until too late. Her blade rises and slashes across the passive creature's throat, spurting blood. Cutter gets back to his feet and though he moves a little slower than before, it's clear he's not in danger of mortality just now. He smiles over at Shadows and nods, **I will be,** he replies. He watches the bear lay calmly down with Yun's spear embedded in its side and two wolves harrowing it. Then, before he can react, Northwind moves, mercifully, putting the bear out of its misery. Gem sinks to her knees at the bear's lifeforce disappears suddenly from her mind. She weeps openly, the experience of feeling death when linked to the creature is almost overwhelming. She isn't hurt, merely dazed and mourning its passing vividly. Yun approaches the bear's corpse, though she looks with concern in Gem's direction. Once she reaches it, she prods with a toe, then sets her foot against the carcass and carefully works her spear out of it. Her immediate concern is with the precious troll forged spearhead, which she checks for any damage before she lets the pure joy of having won against such a beast run through her. Shadows nods to Cutter and now heads over to Gem, kneeling near her, ** Gem? Are you well? ** He reaches out to her, very worried. Northwind does not stay within reach of the creature, but joins Sunrest, and watches as the huge beast topples to its side. That was the strangest thing she'd ever seen. What happened to it? Residual fear makes her blood sing still. It slowly dawns on her that they had brought it down! Their hunt was fruitful and what a kill! She throws back her head and howls, Sunrest joining in a second later. "AYYYOOOOOOOOOOAHH!" She is too lost in the hunt for now to notice the other hunters. But something else tugs at her as her howl fades. Her head snaps westward. Cutter wants to go to Gem and see what it is that the she-elf is so upset about but, first thing's first. He recalls Northwind's warning of a coming storm and he sends out a call across the forest telling of a kill brought down and calling for help getting it brought in before the storm arrives. That done, he turns back to the others and now moves over to kneel opposite Shadows at Gem's side, "What is it, lass?" he queries using one of Treestump's favorite nicknames for the younger females about. Gem wipes at her face, trying to push the thoughts out of her mind. She has experienced this before, but never so abruptly. She has no idea how to explain it to her companions, but she nods to Shadows, trying to tell him she is okay. When Cutter approaches, she again searches for words. **I...we...were one. I...felt it die.** It's her best attempt at explaining. She grabs her braid, tugging at it softly, an attempt to comfort herself. Yun wipes clean her spearhead, keeping an eye on the brush to be sure that the bear didn't have any mates or friends who might come and object at its violent death. She's not without concern, though, and she does look towards Gem again but seeing Cutter and Shadows having it full in hand, remains alert by the bear's corpse. Shadows looks at Cutter and then moves to give Gem a hug if she will allow, ** You were very brave. It will help us save the holt and stop the hunger.** Northwind goes into a blur of motion, retrieving her fallen spear and cleaning the blood from her blade before returning it to its thigh sheath. ** We must go, ** she says urgently, echoing Cutter's call. Sunrest keeps to her side as she joins her fellow hunters. ** Gem? ** Noticing the tears now, she sends ** <> ** To Cutter, she asks doubtfully. ** How are we going to get it under cover before it hits? ** They don't have much time. Northwind is torn at rushing the upset Gem off, but they needed to be safely under cover. Soon! Yun lifts her chin to sniff lightly at the air. There's certainly storm sign now that it's been pointed out, but the smells of the hunt are much stronger. Suddenly, Yun's jaw sets stubbornly. "I'm not losing this carcass to some storm. If I have to, I'll drag it to the holt in my teeth." Ashefur sniffs at the bear's carcass then looks to Cutter as if waiting for a signal. The wolf salivates at the smell of the fresh blood. The former chief looks up at the sends from Northwind and Shadows then nods, **We can meet the others and then we'll have more help for bringing it in. If this storm is as bad as Northwind believes it will be, then we must get back to the Father Tree quickly.** He then looks to Gem and locksends to her. Shadows moves to his feet and begins to grab vines, causing them to weave and make long thick strands. The elf appears quite focused on his plants. Unlike when he works with trees, the elf is quite attuned to vines. The harnesses that he is focused on begin taking shape. Gem returns Cutter's send after accepting Shadows hug, then stumbles to her feet. She is conscious of her surroundings, but seems to be fumbling around as if half blind. Once she is totally steady on her feet, she looks around at everyone oddly. Northwind watches Gem worriedly. Sunrest comes up and nudges the disoriented seeming elf. ** How far are the others? ** she asks Cutter edgily, idly glancing at Shadows' efforts with the fines. Harnesses would make it easier to haul the carcass back for sure. Sunrest asks if he should take Gem back to the holt first. Northwind looks questioningly at Gem and Cutter, unsure. Cutter smiles with relief as Gem gets to her feet, now is the time to rejoice in the kill and so he lets his head fall back and a howl roll out into the night sky, "AYOOOOOOOOAH!" Once he's gotten that out of his system he looks at the motley band of hunters and grins, **We don't have much time before this storm comes in so, Shadows is going to grow some vines into a drag and between the four of us and our wolves, we should be able to start moving it toward the holt then as we meet others, we can move the bear faster.** Gem nods numbly, not opposed to being carried. She knows she would never make it back on her own right now and isn't certain its a good idea to call for Nighteyes. She is still uncomfortable bringing her wolf into the holt, considering...her thoughts drift off again. **I go Sunrest...if Okay.** Even her sends seem to ramble and drift in and out, right now. The red wolf gets enough of her sending to nudge her again, indicating that she should clamber atop him. He waits for her to do so, then sets of for the holt. ** Sunrest, watch over her, brother ** Northwind adds to him. He returns an affirmative along with the fact that he'll return as soon as he can. Northwind nods and watches them go only for a while before refocusing on the task at hand. Shadows is working hard and doesn't even pause to celebrate. His eyes focus on the task at hand. Each harness group is doubled for wolf and elf. He reaches out for yet more vines to call to task. Standing finally, he brings the long sections to the bear and starts to wrap the beast in different areas, ** There isn't much meat on the feet or head....if we take them off then it will make it some lighter perhaps? ** Cutter shakes his head, "Those can be used too," he replies to Shadows then calls Ashefur over to explain to the wolf what's required of him. Ashefur, moves over to the front of this vine contraption and lets the vines be wrapped around him in a makeshift harness. Yun sets her spear in a strap across her back, along with her now unstrung bow, and takes up whatever set of vines she needs to take up to do her part in getting the prey back to the holt. That stubborn set to her chin is still there. She'll howl in victory once she sees the beast back home. Cutter grabs his bow, settles both it and the quiver, gently over his back. Some might notice that his leathers are stained by blood from the scratches on his back. He doesn't complain though, simply grabs up his share of the vines and prepares to start pulling the bear homeward. Shadows growls and throws his back into pulling the bear. He's done this before. His wolf is large and does his best to make use of that size. Eyes stare on the path ahead, not looking anywhere else Northwind walks over to the bear corpse and eyes the vines. Choosing a spot she figures would help, she grabs it, strings it over her shoulders and adds her strength to hauling the bear back, her expression grim now as the wind picks up and the air grows heavy. Wait, she tells it, knowing it's fruitless. Wait. Yun notices and for a moment, her customary grin appears and she says, "You did that just so Leetah would fuss over you, didn't you?" Cutter glances over at Yun and arches a brow before he grins though the cuts are painful, they're not intolerable and the kill has to be brought in. He can't afford the luxury of not helping at this point.. though perhaps when the others join them... perhaps. His only reply to Yun is a slight shrug as he throws his weight against the makeshift trace and the bear begins to move slowly toward the Father Tree. Cutter grumbles just once, "It's moments like this that I wouldn't mind having a Glider or two in the holt..." Yun wrinkles her nose a little bit at that and she sets her jaw while she strains her own compact frame with the effort of moving the carcass in conjunction with the others. Northwind saves her breath, intent on reaching the holt before the fury she senses is unleashed. She sees a red blur and sends a joyful, grateful greeting. ** Sunrest! ** The wolf comes up and Northwind reaches a hand to loop a length of vine over his chest. Slowly but surely, the bear is moved toward the heart of the holt. As it is moved along, others join in, responding to Cutter's send for help bringing it in. It is of a certainty that there will be fresh meat in the holt this night.