*Food*

The scent of meat drifts in the air... If one were too follow the scent, they would find the source to be a large chunk of caribou meat. The meat is lying near a log, but a very faint oily scent clings to the log. It looks as though there were strange tracks in the snow, but they are hardly visible anyway since snow has drifted over them.

Forbidden

The hunter creeps towards the meat, cautious of humans, he sniffs the ground, there was a strange smell other than the meat, he stops before proceeding and calls out for Sahena

Sahena

_\|/_ The she-wolf heard the call and came running as fast as her long and powerful legs could carry her. It didn't take her to long, for Sahena was known for speed... not strength. She could run for ages, longer than most and at a faster pace... the downside was that rarely helped in fighting... only running away, and no honor came from that. She arrived at the area, panting quietly, pink carper flowing from her mouth. Her eyes moved to Forbidden then to the meat. The meat was finely cut... if it was tore, that'd be one thing, but this... wasn't right. She cautiously took a step forward, staying a good ways from it however... She picked up the faint scent, she didn't know what it was... it was too... distant, but she would distinctly tell it wasn't the musky smell of a wolf... or a wolverine. Perhaps another predator left it... but what else lived around here? And what could make such a clean cut? She didn't like this... it'd be best to leave the meat... they still had almost a whole sheep left... She shook her head, long muzzle rocking back and forth, "Leave it alone... I have a bad feeling about this, we don't need it as of now... if someone's hungry... they can go for the sheep". It was still below freezing, the sheep couldn't have spoiled... not yet anyhow, it was too cold. She quickly edged back from it, the skin over her shoulders tightening from a slight spasm of fear causing the fur to raise. The fear faded, but a certain element of worry remained within her... she didn't like this... not at all... _\|/_

Forbidden

He nodded as she said this, he backed away from it, then looks at her. "Who are you going to have as alpha hunter?"

Sahena

_\|/_ This question caught her well off guard, t'was the last thing she expected to hear. Her head quickly turned over to him, blinking a few times before answering "I don't know... I haven't found anyone worthy. And besides, I know how the game works... the male takes over... I'm quite content leading alone. This is a fine pack... they just need to learn to work together, the hunting at the ranch was a near disaster. None were willing to rely on the other... every wolf too their own job, when they should've all gone to tackle one job together" A small sigh was heaved, she knew that hunt could've gone better, but she couldn't complain... she did have a full belly after all. _\|/_

Keilo, Kanan, & Umay

The beta male padded in with his son Kanan following closely behind. He picked up his alpha and Forbidden's scent on the wind and followed it to where they currently were. Being concerned about his daughter, he failed to see the meat. "My daughter, Kiolana, has a thorn stuck in her paw." Keilo began to explain his dilemma to both wolves, "Vatoni and I have no way of getting it out... we hoped maybe someone else had any ideas on what to do."

Kanan spotted the meat and suddenly realized how hungry he was. With his curious and bold nature, the pup scampered towards the meat as his father was busy explaining his problem.

Sahena

_\|/_ The running pup quickly caught her attention. A quiet gasp came from her just before she quickly lunged forward towards the pup grasping him by the neck in her jaws, skin clasped tightly between her teeth, her grip may've hurt him a little, but she didn't trust this meat, she'd rather suffer from the pup's father's wrath than risk him being truly hurt. For she wouldn't be able to live with herself if something happened to any of them, especially a pup. She had been paying attention to what Keilo had said, but that problem quickly left her mind. She had caught the pup rather quickly and she stepped back away from the meat, backing away with tail lowered. She felt rather awkward now. She kept backing away until she was further than she had originally been as if the meat itself were about to lunge for her. She bowed her head and let go in Kanan apologizing quickly, for she had meant no harm "I'm sorry, but please... don't eat that... there's something wrong with that" she paused as she thought... yes, they must be starved... she didn't see them come back to the sheep... at all. "We still have some food left, just please please don't eat that meat..."_\|/_

Vatoni, Kiolana, Kouji

Kouji sat beside his father, he watched his brother go for the meat and Sehena grab him; Hearing what Sehena said he wouldn't go and try to get the meat. Kouji heard someone coming up behind her and turned, seeing his mother and two sisters...

Vatoni walked up, in her jaws was her daughter, she set Kiolana down in front of Keilo, she gently nuzzled her daughter. "We need to find a way to get it out.." she said to the wolves. She saw Sehena grab her son, but after what her Alpha had said, she was grateful that Sehena hadn't let her son eat the meat. She barked for him to come back over to the others...

Kiolana had a tear on her cheek, her paw was hurting badly. The thorn stuck out of the bottom of her little paw. She held it up, off of the ground...

They were all hungry, and would eat as soon as they had gotten the thorn out of Kiolana's paw...

Keilo, Kanan, & Umay

Kanan yelped in surprise when he was snatched up and squirmed to get free. Keilo took a step forward at first, startled by what his alpha had done and ready to take his pup back. Then he noticed the meat and that odd scent that was mingled with it and realized just why Sahena had grabbed Kanan. One of their pack members, Cedar, had been after he got close to the meat. "Thank you, Sahena." he said with a sigh. "That meat was set there by humans. They hidden some thing near the meat that will snap around your leg and not let go." He wasn't completely for sure about that, but at least that's what happened last time.

Kanan tucked his tail between his legs and lowered his head. Sullenly, he scrambled over to his mother and laid down. His outgoing nature was getting him into trouble.

Umay shook her head at her brother, then turned her attention to Kiolana and whimpered slightly, worried about her sister.

Sahena

_\|/_ A lone nod was issued to the others "...it did seem that there was something wrong with it." Now her attention was more focused on Kiolana. A thorn in the paw... how to deal with it? Her ears flicked back a little as she tried to think of something to do. She thought of something instantly though it wasn't anything special, it couldn't hurt to ask while she thought of a different way to handle this "If that thorn's sticking out at all... you should be able to grab it with your teeth." She paused, grimacing slightly as yet another thought passed through her mind "If it's too far in though... I don't know what you can do. I've been hearing a lot of talk about a woman... who takes care of animals though..." She was merely throwing that tid-bit of information out, she truly knew nothing about this woman... but if nothing could be done by them for Kiolana... they might just have to find her._\|/_

Vatoni, Kiolana, Kouji

Vatoni listened, she didn't want to take her daughter to a human, but if they had to she would...

The thorn in Kiolana's paw was sticking out a little bit, one of her siblings might be able to bite it and pull it out..

Kouji nuzzled his dad's leg, then, he sat next to him, trying to mimic the way his dad was standing...

Manov

The hunter comes towards the group of hunters and huntress, he bows his head slightly to Sahena. "I am going to the woman that helps animals, would you like me to your daughter to get help? I promise she wont get hurt, I wouldn't let any pup get hurt...ever..."

Vatoni, Kiolana, Kouji

She looked at the brute, she didn't really know him that well. Looking at her mate, wondering what he would say..

Kouji watched Manov, he had never met him before...

Kiolana looked at her Daddy, her eyes had tears in them..

Sahena

_\|/_ Her eyes shifted to Manov, she respected him, though he may've no longer been alpha he had been before her. She took in his words and pondered herself. She wasn't too fond of humans, there was always a risk in dealing with this. They hadn't even tried to pull the thorn out yet. "Manov... if you'd wait but a moment" Her voice seemed to be strangely kind "We don't have many options, one of the pups needs to try to pull it out... their teeth are still small and should be able to grasp it. While ours are thicker and might end up pushing it in further. It is a kind offer, but it also a last resort." She took note of his kind gesture, she had not forgotten her promise. If she saw a significant and constant improvement in his attitude she would let him be alpha hunter once again without a struggle. _\|/_

Vatoni, Kouji, Kiolana

Vatoni nodded, she would rather wait and see if one of her pups could get the thorn out instead of taking her to a human. She looked at Kouji, "Kouji, see if you can take it out, Kiolana, be very still dear." she said.

Kouji was a little unsure but listened, he walked over to his sister, "I'm sorry if it hurts" he said.

Kiolana held up her paw so that her brother to try and take the thorn out. She close her eyes, ready for the pain it would be when it was removed...

Kouji latched onto the end of the thorn, with a strong pull he removed the thorn.

Kiolana yelped loudly, but the pain soon left. she let out a sigh of relief.

Vatoni nuzzled her daughter, "Does it hurt any more?"

"Just sore" Kiolana said..

"GOT IT!" Kouji yipped, "I sorry Kiolana if it hurt"

"That's ok" she said, "thank you"

Manov

He smiles kindly. "That is good that you have gotten it out, now if you please forgive me, I must go to the old lady for help, I will see you all later. Good-bye." The hunter turns and runs off.