And I still hold on to the letters you returned.

For the first time in her young life, Rea ventured farther beyond the territories immediately surrounding her family's claim. Initially she hadn't realised, having turned focus on following the scent of migrating elk that'd passed through the run early that morning. She'd hoped to catch up with them to count, to observe and learn their ways, but the change in scenery had distracted her. The proud mountains she'd been born to reared up behind her and unfamiliar peaks rose in the distance - it was exciting to find herself on ground she hadn't crossed before.

It made her wonder: how much further could she go?

Adventuring was in her blood. She was a wolfess who was physical, who'd never felt such a strong desire to roam but was always eager to experience new things. The mottled Boesch took it all in her stride, padding on across the flatlands as though she did so every day. She walked with her head high and her seaglass eyes bright, tail bouncing with each enthusiastic stride.

The terrain grew uneven and something small and brown scurried across the path she trailed along. Curious, the yearling drew her ears forward and couldn't help herself, so gave chase.


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The girl wasn't entirely alone, but thankfully she wouldn't have a threat from him either. Killian felt it was disgusting when older wolves targeted younger ones for any reason. A young age didn't mean weakness, but all it took was a bad experience to sour a lifetime. So when the rabbit darted in front of him, the girl giving chase, he gave a friendly enough woof and joined her.

She could have it, honestly. Killian just felt like chasing something and she presented an opportunity. He zig-zagged around, having a grand old time and not paying much attention to how silly he looked. Chasing after the girl, who chased the rabbit, but also chasing the rabbit too. He'd help her if the prey escaped her grasp, but was content to allow her the experience without hounding her.

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Rea wasn't even hungry. She was simply driven by instinct to give chase to the little creature that ran desperately ahead, zig-zagging on surprisingly swift little legs. The mottled yearling clacked her fangs toward its rump when she drew near, though it always seemed to be just out of her reach. Only vaguely aware that a stranger had joined in on her pursuit, Rea did not pay him as much attention as she probably should have.

The young Boesch watched as her prize disappeared into an underground tunnel, and in her frustration began to dig at the burrow's entrance. “Damn!” Rea barked, though began to laugh as she ceased her useless efforts to turn focus on the rogue who'd followed her. “That's one fast little shit!”


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She didn't seem to mind his presence or was simply ignoring him. He skittered to a halt to the side of the girl as she dug in frustration at the burrow. When she turned to him, Killian's face split into a smirk. "That they are, mate" he veered to the left and approached the hole "but I'll show you a neat trick."

Most would enchant and sway a rabbit from a hole, but he knew better. A rabbit would be grounded for hours if a predator was outside its hole. He began digging on the solid earth above the burrow. Straight down. The earth loosened around the rabbit; it would be buried alive if it didn't come out. "Keep watch for it, eh?"

Because.

"It'll pop like a weasel out of that hole."

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Rea lifted her ears and wagged her tail, enthusiastic at the stranger's offer of showing her something. The girl stepped aside on her mottled, muddied paws to allow him space to work near the burrow's entrance, her green eyes bright as she observed how he began to dig. So her own actions had sort of been the right thing to do, apparently; she'd assumed that the best thing to do was move off and wait quietly for the creature to feel safe enough to venture outwith its hiding place once more.

Those who knew Rea Boesch knew that patience was not her strongest quality.

“Okay,” she chirped, and hovered (probably annoying) around with her head lowered and jaws prepared to take hold should the creature come bolting out.


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Killian dug more frantically, making soft growing noises that were audible to the prey. His intention was to scare the rabbit out, but if it suffocated under the weight of the earth - he could still dig it out after it died. No harm, no foul. The dirt began to loosen and the rabbit let out a shrill panic-induced shriek. It couldn't survive a cave-in, but it could slip past the wolves using its speed.

With that in mind, the rabbit darted out, into the jaws of the girl. The young man hopped from the grassy hill, eyes locked on the scene. He wondered if she would be successful this time - if not? Well, he had taught her a little trick to use all the same. She could try it again. Life was all about trial and error, after all. Everyone got pissed off when they failed though.

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She was buzzing, practically vibrating with anticipation as she waited for the rabbit to come fleeing out as the stranger promised. Time seemed to tick by so slowly and Rea emitted a strained whine, her teeth giving a few excited little chatters. Finally, after what felt like an age, the creature shrieked and the young she-wolf tensed as she prepared to pounce.

A second too slow, the rabbit managed to evade her claws. Rea came crashing down onto the ground, scraping her elbow across the surface of a rugged stone, but she barely even noticed the scratch. She scrambled awkwardly to regain balance then launched her bodyweight forward, managing to snag her target's hind limb between her fangs. The rabbit screamed at the contact and Rea flung her head back to toss the poor, unsuspecting creature kicking and screaming into the air so her companion could catch it.


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Hot potato - rabbit - pass it on!

The girl wasn't very elegant about her catch, but at least she got the job done. In the end, that's what anyone could ask for. He laughed, jumping into the air and catching the poor startled animal in his jaws. He gave a mighty close - snap! - and the rabbit was dead. It remained still in his jaws, blood trickling out of puncture wounds.

Thankfully, the rabbit didn't suffer much. Just scared out of its bloody tree. Err. Burrow.

Killian huffed from the effort. It was the first time he had hunted in a pair since arriving here. Alone, there was no pressure to do your best. Nobody was looking at you. The girl had been clumsy but she showed an eagerness to learn. Maybe next time she'd blow some poor boy (or girl, no judges here) away with her skill. 

"Bloody mess but we did it" Killian chuckled as he placed the rabbit down, gesturing to his dirty limbs. The man had more tact than pointing out the flaws... Okay, that wasn't true. He was a condescending asshat mostly. But he didn't want to bring the girl down. She tried. Really "name's Killian, mate. Who're you?"

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While the rogue might muse over her lack of professionalism, Rea was bursting with pride. She grinned brightly and wagged her blue-grey tail because despite the messiness of her attack, the rabbit had been slain. Her eyes glimmered contently to see it dangle limp between her assistant's jaws and she laughed triumphantly at his comment. “Messy, but fun!” Rea's expression was a mischievous one, and she lowered to her haunches to give herself a sweep. Green eyes looked over her muddied limbs and she flexed her toes to search for any spots of blood.

“I'm Rea,” she noticed the scrape on her elbow and shifted awkwardly to lick at it, before turning focus on her hunting partner. His pelt was patchwork, not unlike her own, but shared shades similar to those of her father. “Where'd you learn that little trick?”


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He can't help but laugh. The girl was confident about herself - well, there could be worse emotions and thoughts about oneself. He would mentally shrug. "Shit, you're right bout that" he smirked "it was funny when you tossed that rabbit about. Here he was, hopping about..." His tone took on a dramatic tune, lifting a paw to his brow "as if his day can't get any worse! Some bugger stepped on his carrots and now" Killian cawed "got some lass tossin' him about like a toy!" Then. Snap. Dead. He left that part out. Morbid for a little lady like her.

Or not? He wasn't very perceptive since coming to Canis. Best play it safe. "Oh, here and there" He waved his raised paw dismissively "most of its just common sense. Twenty percent instinct, lass" He flashed her a grin "the other part's just dumb luck" Not everyone could be lucky all the time. Save some for the rest of them, aye? "the prey will flee again if you destroy their hiding spot. The same could be said of wolves" His blues twinkled with mischief "it's all about exploiting weakness and turning the tables to your advantage."

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Gonna conclude Rea here, thank you for the thread!

---

Rea returned to nursing her scratch, sweeping her tongue over her elbow and ridding her fur of the little blood that'd seeped from the little wound she'd received. The oozing seemed to stem swiftly and she lifted her muzzle to beam at her hunting partner as he explained how he'd come to learn his little trick, her tail sweeping the grass at her rear as she listened with interest. “Well,” she chirped, gathering to her paws, “bravo! Good thinking, Killian.”

She couldn't wait to share such tactics with @Renn when she returned to the summit, and found herself looking forward to putting them to practice in the run with him. Her green eyes twinkled as she watched the rogue, “thanks for hunting with me. You can keep that.” She motioned toward their kill; he probably needed it more than her, considering his active lifestyle as a loner, “maybe we can chase rabbits again sometime!”

The mottled youth excused herself, loping off across the rugged terrain to see what more of it was available until evening crept in to rob her of daylight. She didn't want to upset her parents too much by roaming beyond their home after dark, and she turned her face toward the Western mountains to lope off in search of something else of interest. 


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np! it was fun! thanks for threading with me!

 

He would never turn down free food, especially when he had a paw in killing it. Killian nodded, placing a paw on the rabbit and dragging to below his chest. Just in case any assholes were looking in, attempting to formulate a plan to take it from them. The lass would drift away from him. Conversation over.

"See ya, lass" Though he knew there was a better chance of throwing himself into the sea than seeing another wolf again. Big old world, aye "travel back safe." All in all, he didn't wish her ill will. A bit clumsy to learn new things, but he had explained and worked with her well enough. He hoped she'd become a great hunter, truly.

Killian plucked the rabbit from the earth and turned, walking further south. /end

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