Generational Patrol

>> SATH

Sath had taken up the lead on the patrol, naturally, leading Omen and Shadow on the familiar route to the outskirts of the hunting grounds. She stopped every now and then, leaving markings, howling, letting the others catch up when her pace grew too brisk for the pup or the mentor. They followed her like two darkly colored shadows, and if it wasn't clear by Sath's perky demeanor, she was more than happy to play tour guide. The company was nice.

"Just through those trees up ahead and we're there," she called out, slowing down once more. The small group still was under the cover of the woods, leaves up above providing cool shadows that cast across their pelts in splotches. She spun around, tail wagging. "Either of you been this far out before?"

Notes: looking forward to this ^^
Tags: @Omen @Shadow

Shadow shook her head to answer Sath's question. "Nah, I haven't been out much. But I'd like to explore more of the territory." She bounded forward, wanting to catch a glimpse of the hunting grounds. Would there be trees or a wide-open plain? Would there be a breeze to ruffle the fur on her pelt?

>> SATH

Sath listened to both of their responses, unsurprised. Relieved maybe, in Shadow's case, though she was growing older by the month and would soon be expected to join the pack. The idea made Sath grin proudly. "Well, about time you got acquainted," she said, reaching out to rub a paw over Shadow's head as the pup bounded past, eager to peek through the treeline. While she was busy, Sath turned to Omen. "Sounds like it's been a while, but you probably remember the lake that sits upriver," says Sath, a little more tactical now that the adults were talking. She juts her chin towards the west. "I want to avoid there for today. Don't need to be getting our stink all over the prey's watering hole, and it might be... too exciting for Shadow." She snickered, but waited for confirmation from the Mentor. "We'll veer south instead. Make a loop and let her explore a bit, let her see how we patrol in the flesh. Good?"

Notes: -
Tags: @Omen @Shadow

Shadow's ears flicked back when she heard the others talk, but instead of listening, she gazed out at the hunting grounds. Nothing interesting caught her eye. She yelped when Omen appeared out of nowhere by her side and spoke. She had been so busy staring at nothing she hadn't noticed him approach.

Listening to the mentor, Shadow sniffed the air. Something caught her attention and she swiveled her head that way, spotting movement in the long grass. "What's that? Can I go get it?" Shadow whispered so she wouldn't alert whatever was there.

>> SATH

Sath hums at Omen's idea, glancing over her shoulder to look at Shadow, who seemed in her own little world. "She is old enough, practice would do her some good." She looked back to the Mentor, nodding. "Alright, but we play it safe." Sath appreciated Omen taking a lead with Shadow, and with one last grin spun around to follow him in rejoining her. Hunting could be a dangerous task, and between the two of them things could get a little crazy if Shadow went off the rails. Luckily Sath never waned in the face of a challenge.

She came up on the other side of the pup, the lush, green fields swaying temptingly just past a few rows of trees. The pup eagerly whispers back to her Mentor when they catch wind of something nearby. Sath spots the movement in the grass and perks up. "Could be a coyote, or a hare if we're lucky." She turns to the pup, brows quirked. "It might be easier to tell if you can get a little closer."

Notes: -
Tags: @Omen @Shadow

Shadow grinned when her mentor gave her permission to catch... whatever it was. Switching to her "hunting" side, Shadow calculated the distance between hunter and prey. Well, she did what she thought she should do. Keeping Omen's instruction in mind, she felt the breeze blowing the animal's scent to her, meaning the animal in the grass wouldn't be able to smell her. Crouching low, Shadow crept through the long grass, careful not to step on anything that would alert the other animal of her presence. Ears pricked, Shadow prowled closer and closer, stopping when she thought she was close enough. She glanced back at the other wolves, unsure of what she should do next.

>> SATH

Sath's ears perked up when Omen joined her gentle instruction without missing a beat, and she couldn't help but notice how engaged the older male was now. She wondered if he was a hunter some time in the past... or maybe it was just him genuinely enjoying his job. Either way it was a nice change of pace from his usually blunt, grumpy demeanor.

She and the Mentor hung back while Shadow took up the lead on their cue. Omen sat while Sath crouched readily out of sight, both of their eyes locked on the pup. Her small ody was able to wade through the grass with little noise made. Sath's scarred face was encouraging when she turned around, her brow waggling once. "What is it?" The alpha mouthed, silent and not wanting to give Shadow the answers too easily. This would be a good learning moment for the pup, and an even finer example of how to trust your instincts.

Notes: -
Tags: @Omen @Shadow

OOC: What should the animal be? Confused...

Shadow shrugged when the older wolves didn't respond to her confusion. They probably couldn't, anyway, since it would alert the animal she was trying to hunt. She would just do whatever she wanted, then, and try to kill whatever was waiting for her in the grass. Shadow turned back to the task and crept closer to her prey, thoughts running through her mind at high speed.

Should I jump on it? Or chase after it? No, it could be faster than me and I probably wouldn't be able to catch it. Surprise would probably work best, then a killing bite in the... jugular? Or breaking its neck? Shadow chose to surprise her prey by pouncing on it, then killing it with a swift blow to the neck. Deciding she was close enough, she wriggled her haunches and leaped through the grass, intent on the animal.

>> SATH

Sath watched the pup, alert crouch ready to spring her into action should anything go wrong. Shadow didn't seem too impressed by their lack of guidance, which made the alpha smirk and laugh silently, but when she caught on Sath knew she was back on track. The younger wolf's dark head spun back around, and Sath could almost see the thoughts bouncing around in there.

Eventually the pup settled on a surprise attack, wiggling her rear like some kinda feline and then leaping through the grass toward the animal. Sath let out a huff through her nose and stood up, taking a few quick steps forward in case she needed help with a foe too formidable. She craned her head, trying to see the action.

Notes: Since you're the one who introduced it, you get to pick what the animal is Shadow! Could me a rabbit, mouse, mole, coyote... anything.
Tags: @Omen @Shadow

Shadow sprang through the grass, preparing to land a swift blow to kill the animal. Except, she had miscalculated and instead of landing right on top of her prey, her outstretched claws only skimmed over the pelt, getting a few tufts of fur instead of a killing blow. Oops. Shadow scanned the animal quickly. Whatever it was, it was smaller than her, had two long ears, and it was fast. The hare dashed away as soon as it spotted her.

Snarling in frustration, Shadow chased after the blur of brown, even though she knew it was futile. The hare was much faster than her and soon outran the hunter, disappearing into the long grass. Huffing, she returned to the other wolves.

>> SATH

Shadow's pounce had missed the mark, and before Sath could blink there was a flurry of action before her. Shadow was taking off and the alpha sprung after the younger girl, hot on her heels while Sath caught sight of the hare that had narrowly escaped death. The chase ended about as well as most of the alphess' own did when it came to rabbits, and she almost felt bad for not trying harder when Shadow gave up and came sulking back.

"Not bad, Shadow," Sath grinned, hoping to cheer up the girl. "Chin up. Hares are small, fast targets, and you came really close."

Notes: -
Tags: @Shadow @Omen

Shadow panted as she caught her breath after chasing the hare, tongue lolling. With the older wolves' reassurance and her own optimism, Shadow regained her earlier cheer and bounced around the others. "I really wanna see the whole territory," she exclaimed, "Please, please, pleasepleaseplease pleasepleaseplahse phlaez plhizey." Shadow frowned, wondering what she was saying. Shrugging, she continued, "Can we pleeease continue the patrol?"