shubawai

Shubawai races down through the trees. Muscles pounding the hard ground; chest barely heaving as the cold wind slams into her lungs. A sharp yip sounds out across the forest floor as the strong sweet smell of the woods rushes through the air. She was built to run, and nothing else could be better. The streams, trees, and small animals flicker in and out of view the faster she bounds through the brush. She raises her nose to the air and takes in everything. Small creatures all around have taken no notice of her yet. She sets her eyes across the land as she comes to a halt on a large rock. Nothing can be seen, but she knows they are there.

Io

The tiny bird fluttered quickly behind the wolf as she passed into the hunting ground of the pack. She chirp directly to the wolf and the wolf only, " If you make a lot of noise, nothing will come out, you have to be quiet. I'm all the way up here and I can hear you." She sighed then locked her wings and began a soft glide to the ground.

Tiping her wings one way, then the other, she weaved her way down into and through the trees. Watching as the wolf haults on a rock. Io passed the wolf and turned around toward the wolf. " I'm not one for you carnivors, But if you wait here I can go search for some prey and relay their location. None would suspect a bird like me to be allied with a wolf." She smiled and pumped her wings to regain her air and search for some unsuspecting animal.

*Potential Prey*

A small bachelor herd of mule deer were browzing their way along a steep hill, a short distance from the wolf. The four deer, ranging from three to eight years of age, all had their antlers growing. However, at this time of year, the antlers were soft and covered in velvet skin.

Further away, a grizzly bear was feeding on a recently killed elk. Three small cubs wondered nearby her.

Io

The bird spotted the Deer, and the bears and she turned around headed back to Shubawai. Gracefully the bird flew low and reported to the wolf what she has seen, knowing none would expect the wolf on her be-half. " If you would like, I can search for more, or do you think any of these options?" She chirped softly and stayed perched on the limb of a tree while waiting the wolf's answers.

shubawai

Shubawai smiled at the little bird. Her tail twitched with anticipation of the hunt. "Thank you Io. This will do fine." She stood up and turned in the direction of the deer. The smile faded as she remember the bears. "Io would you mind showing me a way around the bear and her cubs?" something like a muffled laugh escaped her lips."I wouldn't want to run into them." She flashed her teeth at the forest, but her body didn't show the same confidence. She stared up at the little bird, and smiled thankful for his company.

Io

The small bird chirped softly. "Don't worry, the bears are further away, you shouldn't have any problems with them. But I will fly over the deer and circle around." The Starling did as she said. Flying over the herd a bit, the turning around and heading back in the direction of the wolf. Then turning about once again. Aiming in the deer's direction, then falling and landing on a nearby branch.

*Mule Deer*

The deer continued to browse the vegetation, spread out a few yards from each other as they looked for the best food. The youngest in the group looked up at Io as she circled around, then gave her no more thought as he continued to eat.

shubawai

Shubawai crouched low as she could to the forest floor and began to slowly move forward. Though her coat was bright her small frame hid well amongst the lush bushes. She couldn't feel any viberations and the little bird still circled in the same spot. Good they haven't noticed anything strange she thought to herself. As she came around a rather large bush she stopped, the deer ten meters in front of her. The young fea's body froze instantly. She was closer than she thought she could get. Shubawai slowly crouched back ready to spring if they noticed her. Legs taunght and paws pressed hard against the ground. The little bird still circle, but the deer seemed to take no notice. She prepared to leap, watching the deer for until the right moment.

Io

It was her best interest to try and help. She flew down and purposly landed on a weak twig. She was across from the deer. When she landed the twig snapped from the tree. Soft enough not to terrify the mule deer, but loud enough to hopefully grab its attention. She was trying to get the deer to look at her, away from where Shubawai approached.

Tyrant

He saw her and the youngest mule deer, then turned and began to walk to the second weakest. He was silent, blackness blending into the shade and leaves as he looked for another deer. Foot falls were silent as he made his way sniffing softly for the scent.

*Mule Deer*

The youngest buck startled at the noise, giving an alarm snort, which the other bucks ignored. They were more experienced, though they did offer Io a glance just to be sure. The young buck stared at the broken stick a moment, his heart racing from the sudden scare.

The group was rather healthy, although one of the bucks seemed to be breathing a bit harder than the others.

Tyrant

The brute found the one that was breathing hard, And when he looked up to stare at the snap, he lunged with gaping jaws to it's throat. Hoping a quick kill would befall it.

shubawai

Shubawai was ready and as she saw tyrant leap at the other mule deer. She took her shot at the startled young one. She pounced at him with quick speed; aiming to sink her teeth home into his young neck. Hoping to for little fight.

*Mule Deer*

The young buck, inexperienced, didn't move quick enough. There was hesitancy in his response as Shubawai sprung out of hiding. This delayed reaction cost him the precious little time that could have led him to escape the predator. Just as his startled body turned to flee, the wolf's jaws closed about his throat. Instantly, the deer gave a gurgled bark and began to kick out violently with his front hooves. If Shubawai kept her hold, she could kill the buck relatively soon; but she would have to be very careful of the hooves...

Tyrant's victim had some experience to guide him. Without thought, he gave a snort and bolted at the first blur of motion he saw. Just like that, the three older deer were bounding away with Tyrant a hair's breath away from his target. At first, the deer pulled away from the wolf rather quickly. It wasn't long before the two healthy ones had put a good amount of distance between them and the wolf. But the third one seemed hampered by the breathing problem. He was outpacing Tyrant at the moment, but he was beginning to slow...

Tyrant

The large young wolf was built strong, not for speed. He began to use his endurance and went after the one he went after first. He kept up with the deer, waiting until he was aligned with it. When so he would come up. He stayed right behind and contemplated his move. Keeping his eyes on the deer's hind legs. He was waiting for some sort of stumble. If so he would Snap at the stumbling leg to grip it and trip the deer.

If the deer did not faulter, he's move to the side and attack from that direction, hoping the deer wouldn't kick out at him. It'd be a painful price to pay.

shubawau

Shubawai's jaws held a firm grip on the young bucks neck. His kicks did not falter her mind from it's goal. Eyes aware of his flying hooves, she bit down harder hoping to end this quick. She could taste the warm blood in her cheeks, and the bucking seemed not as hard.

*Mule Deer*

The young buck continued to kick and struggle, but his efforts quickly began to wane. His breath came harder to draw in as the wolf's jaws clutched tightly around his throat. His eyes grew glossy and wide. After a few moments, the buck was dead.

The other continued to run, nostrils flaring and mouth opened wide, rimmed with foam as he panted for air. Despite his efforts, he could not keep up a swift pace, and his two comrades quickly pulled out of sight. The buck panicked and darted to the side, trying to throw the wolf off his tracks with some fancy footwork. But in his exhuasted condition, he did faulter, and found one hind limb grasped in the jaws of Tyrant. His other hoof lashed out like a snake, trying to strike the wolf in the jaws. But wether this attack hit or not, the buck fell heavily to the ground...

Tyrant

As soon as he grasped the bucks foot he dug his hind feet into the ground and yanked back and up to insure the bucks fall. Being done so quick the deers foot would have missed, though the sound of breaking air fell past his ear.

When the buck fell he lurched up as fast as he could for the gullet of the neck. Right where the head connected to the neck. And with all his force he bit down and thrashed his head to promise a quick death.

*Mule Deer*

The buck made a quick spring to get himself up, but his wounded leg wouldn't support the drastic motion. Tyrant had his throat now, right where all the vitals ran through. The buck gave a choaked grunt as the teeth dug in, kicking feebly at the ground. Blood trickled from the injury, seeping out between the wolf's clenched jaws. The deer was dead.

Crucified .+. Tyrant

Crucified came racing in, his pack was starving. Seeing Shubawai standing there he grabbed her kill and began to pull it away. "Shubawai I'm very sorry I have to take this from you. My packmates are about to tear eachothers throats out." He began to pull and pull as fast as he could until he was back in the main lands.

Tyrant Felt the deer die down, but thrashed his head one last time before pulling the corpse to the main land.

shubawai

Shubawai stared as crucified dragged off the dead mule deer. The leaves and twigs gave way to the dead weight. She gazed at the ground feeling slightly empty now that the adrenaline had passed. As Crucified rounded a bush she began to follow. Her calm nature had returned. She flicked her tail from bush to bush with a little fear of what crucified had said. Did he mean literally? No, right? As she ponder on it she continued to follow the blood drops on the ground.