*Elk*

Two bull elk had engaged in a mock sparring-session with their antlers. It was only in good nature, for the rut was still a ways off. But s slip and ill-fortune turned the jest into a dire situation. Somehow, their antlers had become locked together!

The two thrashed and pulled, trying to get free...

Kallie/Paco

The two wolves were roaming the land boredly when they her clashing antlers.She began to creap towards the sound.Yum elk for dinner.Except they werent too sure if they should try while the antlers were intact or after.They crept closer.

*Elk*

The elk continued to struggle and didn't notice the wolves until they came closer. One bull snorted loudly and stamped a front hoof into the ground. But try as he might, he could not free himself from the other. Their anterls were rendered useless in defense, but their hind legs could deliver a deadly blow...

Kallie/Paco

They would go for one of the elk.Paco moved off to the other side and at the same time being on the sides they raced towards them wondering where the other pack mates were.

Justice:he had come for the fun and he was racing on the same side as kalli towards the one they choose.

*Elk*

The elk panicked and struggled more, thrashing and pulling so much that one elk fell to his side. The other was hence brought to his knees, his head pulled down by the other. Now Paco had a clear spot to attack either elk.

Justice and Kalllie, on the other hand, had to be more careful. They were on the side where the fallen elk's hooves could strike them.

Kallie/paco/Justice

Kallie went for the one on its knees rater then the fallen one.She went for his neckwhil paco went for his neck on the other side

justice went for where ever he could grab.

*Elk*

The elk couldn't kick out at the three attackers while he was held on his knees. And he was also unable to shake them off. He gave a terrified bellow and tried to rise, but with all the struggling he had done to try and free himself from his companion's antlers, he simply didn't have the strength. Wolfish jaws closed around both sides of his neck and he bellowed again, in pain.

Another set of jaws found the safety of his shoulders; another point where the bull could not do anything about. Being as helpless as he was, it was only a matter of time before the wolves killed him with their deadly neck bites. His blood soaked deeply into the ground.

The other elk kicked and thrashed, terrified. He struggled to get up, but once the other elk fell down in death, he was promptly held down by the weight.

Kallie/Paco/Justice

They ignored the other bull moose and continued on the dieing one.Kallie kept biting down and tearing at its neck while the othre two began to eat it alive.

*Elk*

The elk cried out one last time before going completely limp. Paco would be caught under the antlers if he didn't jump back before the elk fell!

The other one still struggled and called out, trying desperately to get free.

Paco

He was quick to get out of the way and he began to feast on the now dead elk ignoring the life one

kallie and justice feasted.

*Elk*

The other elk struggled a bit more before stopping to rest. The scent of blood and sounds of the wolves feasting on his freind made him terribly naueous. He was absolutely terrified though, but couldn't do a whole lot about it at the moment. He only hoped the wolves would be satisfied with killing just one elk. Although.. he was still trapped by the other's anterls.

Kallie

Ripping off a leg of the moose she ran off with it to bring back to the others.

Justice:he too ripped off a large chunk of meat by the head and ran off

paco:he ate alittle longer and then tore at the head by the antlers and ran off.

Stripes

Stripes was wandering around after coming to the valley recently and he heard all of the commotion and his ears pricked forward out of complete curiousity. He continued walking but soon could smell blood, and he shuddered. But he kept himself going, nose quivering from the unforgiving stench. He found the two elk, and wheeled around and ran a few feet, but soon turned again and stared at the sickening scene. He snorted and looked at the elk that was still alive and he let out some zebra noises before stepping forward cautiously... He noted that the animal was stuck in the other's antlers. Maybe he could help and get the other free? "Hello?" he called out nervously to the still alive elk. "Need help?" he then said, looking at the antlers. He stayed where he was, not daring to step one more inch incase the wolves might still be there.

*Elk*

The elk slowly pulled himself up, feeling terribly sick and weak from the shock of what had happened. Worse yet, his buddy's head, with glazing eyes and bloodied mouth, hung right in front of him! But thankfully, the last wolf to leave had eaten around the neck and head enough so that it was detached from the rest of the body. At least the startled elk could stand.

His ears flicked instantly towards the sound of the zebra, having not noticed his approach. The large deer wheeled around, tilting his head so he could see Stripes. "I-I..." he stammered, still recovering from shock. "Yes." The elk finally stated, collected his senses and feeling a bit releived that it was a fellow herbivore he was talking to. "My antlers... the must be broken." He added on, furrowing his brows at the thought. But it was far better than having this ghastly, corpse head hanging in front of his face.

Stripes

Stripes looked at the head and shuddered again, lifting a hoof. He shook his head, sickened by the horrible looks of the dead elk's remaining body parts. He slowly walked forward, looking around. He wanted to look at anything but that bloody head! "I can help you get free... Err..." he said, shuddering again as he took the final step to the alive elk.

*Elk*

He lowered his head. "Can you kick my antlers? They are strong... but... they should break with a good enough blow." The elk stated, not really wanting to loose his antlers, which he would be needing for this fall. But, being able to eat and see where he was going was a bit more important to him. So grudgingly, he decided to sacrifice his antlers. They were too tightly locked together to be pulled apart now.

His dark eyes turned to Stripes and his head lowered more. "Just... be careful. Please." A wrong aim, and the elk would find himself knocked out! As he waited for the blows, it suddenly came to him just how strange this 'horse' looked. Stripes? What in the world... he'd never seen such paterns!

Stripes

Stripes nodded. "This should be easy enough..." he said before turning around completely. He looked to make sure the antlers were right behind him where his hooves would strike with a powerful blow. He snorted and his hind end lifted up as his hindlegs struck out with their strong hooves. He did it a few more times, each time giving it all the strength he could muster. Breathing hard, he looked behind him again. "Are they unstuck?" he asked, breathing hard. But it felt good. He hadn't breathed like that since he was in the big race.

*Elk*

There were a few loud cracks as Stripes' hooves struck the solid antlers. A few broken tines lay on the ground, and one of the main beams had been broken. But it was enough to free the elk, and he raised his head. He now one antler with some missing tines, and a half of an antler with only one tine left on it. It was better than he had hoped for!

Shaking his head, he looked to the zebra, "Thank you very much! I would have starved or been taken out by the wolves." He exclaimed, stamping his hoof into the ground in simple excitement. Now his curiousity came forward and his eyes narrowed quizzically, "Just what are you...? I don't mean to be rude, but I've never seen such colors, and in such a pattern."

Stripes

Stripes smiled as he heard the elk's words. "Your welcome..." he said quietly before looking around. His brown eyes then locked back on the now free elk. "A zebra." he then replied, shaking his head and snorting. He would have been better off if he wasn't one. He was too different around here... Too unique. Stripes? Who would ever think of such a thing? But Stripes had proven his speed and great racing ability back in a place called Kentucky. Those were great days... The problem was that he had been made fun of before he won the race. But after that other animals-- and humans-- started respecting him. A zebra wanting to be a racehorse was downright wierd, but he had done it.

*Elk*

"A zebra?" He repeated, studying the equine-like Stripes for a moment longer. "Learn something new everyday, I guess. I'm Harrow, by the way." The elk took in a deep breath and scented the wind. The foul stench of blood permeated his nose though, blocking out most else. Shaking his head a bit in frustration, he spoke up again, "Say, you'd fit in nice with this strange deer herd that roams the area. Their leader is a strange one... he's trying to build up a herd of... well, unique deer. I guess." Harrow shrugged, "But they are a rather violent bunch. Do you have a home? I imagine it'd be tough to live on your own, looking so.... different." he tried not to be rude about it. But looking different, especially for an herbivore, could be very dangerous.

Stripes

Stripes looked downward, thinking. "No, I have no herd... And life alone is pretty tough when you look different." he said. He thought of joining a deer herd. That would be wierd. But if there would be other unique animals then he would indeed consider it. He had thoughts of living with humans and in the wild. Not saying any human would really ever want a rather small equine-like thing with stripes. "I'm Stripes... Which is my name of course." he then said quickly, looking around to make sure there were no more preditors around.

*Elk*

"Suiting name." Harrow replied. "I'd like to offer you a home, but I'm afraid you'd stand out a bit too much. The predators, the dirty vermin, are always attracted to the ones that look different from the bunch." He pointed out, hoping he didn't sound like he was trying to exlude Stripes. "If you want to find that wierd deer herd, try the Ruins. But be careful... I hear humans are capturing horses. And you... you're a horse, right? Well, I mean, you look a lot like one. Besides the stipes of course..." Harrow trailed off, realizing he must sound like a babbling fool.

Stripes

Stripes looked around, thinking about the herdlife. "I think I'll consider it... I'm not really one for the herdlife... I've never been in one, that is. I was born at a circus, but then was left behind. I've had a pretty good life now." he said, whipping his tail around. He didn't know if he would really enjoy herdlife.

*Harrow*

He nodded lightly, "I understand. I wish you luck then, for this Valley isn't always the kindest place for us herbivores." Harrow's eyes flickered an instant to his dead friend and he shuddered, turning quickly away. He didn't want to stick around too much longer, "There is an old two-legger who lives just south of here, across the river. I've never been there, but I've herd she helps all animals... I suppose if you ever need anything, she could provide it. And of course there are several ranches around... but I just don't like those places." The elk went on, trying to provide Stripes with helpful information.

Stripes

Stripes looked at Harrow, tilting his head to the side. "There's a human here that helps animals?" he then asked after a short moment of silence. Now this he would have to remember, if the Valley was really like what the elk said. "I have lived on a farm before." he stated curiously, wanting to go to the lady now. He didn't have anything wrong with him though, but he was one that was rather curious.