Fractured Red

Stalking through the underbrush, my belly scrapes along the freshly fallen snow. I move in the deep snow; stalking. Everett is behind, playing in a tree hollow. He would be too loud for this. One wrong move and the herd is spooked. I slowly move around to the side of the gathering, my eyes lock onto a younger-looking male. He and a few others are a pure white, with a small patch of brown near the antlers. They haven't yet fallen off and would be a good material for tools.

Frayler is on the other side, probably picking out her own deer. The plan is to rush in from both sides. We decided to try and go for two separate kills.

Stalking along, my tail lashes, skimming the snow as I crouch.

I see the herd start to move. Rushing in to join the fray, diving into the herd trying to split my chosen prey up from the herd. Nipping at it heals it tries to kick me, but I race around first on one side then the other. Lily's instincts drive me to move it further away, where the others can't buck at us. She helps me move it to the edge, as it tries to circle back.

My teeth sink into its back leg. Dragging it backwards, it struggles in our hold.

I release it, only to pounce on the deer's side. My claws dig into the flesh as I try and get a hold on the neck. He throws his head up and down, his antler waving around. Don't want to get hit by those. Rearing up, he crashes down dislodging me. Tumbling back, I'm right back on my paws.

Going for the other back leg, I bit down until I hear the crack. A bright crimson liquid leaks down, turning the white fur red, splotching the snow, and turning my muzzle a deep shade of reddish-brown. The deer falls to the ground, both back legs injured, claw marks on his side.

Lily goes in goes the kill. Clamping down on the neck, she keeps the pressure until there is no movement. The prey goes limp.

Lifting my head I search for Frayler. She seems to have also made her kill.

'Everett, we are finished, do you want to come to the clearing? Just follow my scent.' I wait for Everett's response and when it doesn't come I lift my nose to the air. He is in the area with his mindlink is open. 'Everett?' And then I feel Everett bounding towards me—or well Crylle. Crylle drops something by me, rubbing himself against my sides. He growls constantly, as I paw what he dropped over.

'Well done, Crylle, Everett.' It's a good sign that Crylle's instincts are intact. Examining the kill it looks like the hare was previously injured.

Sitting down, Crylle moves closer. I clean off the blood from his ashy-brown coat, before doing the same for myself. My fur is covered in a mixture of things and soon I can see my light brown paws. I move my side, grooming the grey and brown fur, before moving onto my reddish-brown haunches. Red naturally, and redder still from the blood. Leaving my claws for last, I carefully clean the mud, dirt, and blood from around them.

Nothing will clean them from the permanent stains.

Shaking out my fur, I watch as Crylle copies me. I go to grab a hold of the kill as I see the fight in Crylle's eyes. Everett wants out, but Crylle doesn't want to go back yet. Barking, I brush my tail over their pelt.

I'll have to get them to do their shifting exercise when we get back.

Taking a leg in my pull I walk backwards. Across the clearing I see Frayler doing the same. For once the snow helps as it keeps the ground more level, without as many stones and twigs to trip on. It's heavy as I continuously pause to regain a better grip. I hold back a snot of amusement when Everett grabs the tail, trying to push the deer with his head.

Frayler, Everett, and I bring it to her cabin where we all go in and change quickly. Coming out we bring it around to the back, where she has a fence closing off the area.