[Pack event] Shadows through the trees

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OOC: The Winter Solstice is upon us! In an effort to keep things moving smoothly, the rules for participation will be different.

After this opener, every participant may write their arrival and their roll result & completion of the task in a single post. Since this is a hunting-based event, the kills may vary from small to medium game, and those who return with the largest kills will be declared winners.

Rolls must be made using the Carl-bot on our Discord server for fairness and transparency, and posted in brackets at the top of your reply.

For hunting, D1-5 is failure, bringing back either a mouse or nothing at all; D6-14 is fair, and perhaps you caught a hare or something similar; D15-20 is excellent, likely a deer or better, and worthy of reward (if you're a child, you can still roll and participate, but tailor your answers realistically!).

The cutoff date to post is 12/25. It's short, but this is an experiment! After the cutoff date, I will announce the winners and closing post.

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Soft snowfall covered the earth in an expanse of white, lending an air of silence to the normally bustling atrium of Fate's Respite. Nivia had announced her arrival with far less fanfare than the year prior; instead of a violent blizzard, she instead chose to cradle the land and its inhabitants within a loving, gentle embrace, almost as if in apology.

Valeska stepped out of the den, relishing the crunch of fresh snow beneath her paws. She exhaled, a warm gust of steam pluming from her muzzle as she set out toward Houtu's Eye to summon any willing participants for a winter celebration.

It was her favorite season, after all.

The little wolf melted against the landscape as if she were born into it; the soft whites and silver-greys of her coat made perfect camouflage for winter weather, her coat now approaching its peak thickness to better conserve heat against the coming months.

Thankfully there was no wind today. Large, slow-falling snowflakes collected deliciously at the end of her nose, and she flicked up her tongue to lick them away, smiling as she did - they reminded her of home.

Valeska lifted her head and sang into the fading light, summoning those who might wish to play a game and frolic amid the rolling blanket of white that covered their territory.

“Nivia has returned to us once more!” she exclaimed to whoever had chosen to emerge from their dens. “With this, I am organizing a hunt disguised as competition to better fill our bellies and stores for the coming season. Each of you is to go out and bring back the best kill they can find - there will be multiple winners, all of whom may ascend in rank and skill upon their success.”

The silver wolf flashed another grin, invigorated by the cold.

“Now go - and good luck!”

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Rolled a 2 ~

The boy was excited, recently turning a year old and feeling like he could do so much more. And so, when Snow Mama had called for a hunt challenge, he knew he would be apart of it. He was confident in his abilities, as long as it wasn't a fish of course. And so, off he ran, searching for the largest prey he could find! The first thing he found was a deer, something he thought would be a great thing to bring back. But, life didn't always work the way you wanted. 

His attack was quick, and a bit too loud as it started the deer, causing it to run off before he even had a chance to pierce skin. And just that like, he was sat there, alone and with nothing. With a sigh, he would go back to SM, head held down as he move to sit beside her. He certainly wasn't going to be participating now, so he might as well have a seat. 

And so, if she let him, he would wait with her, head leaning into her warm body for comfort. He was a year old now, but he still felt like crying.

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nat one

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There's a fat brown hare on the edge of his view, and he's trying to be as quiet as possible. Alone, he couldn't possibly take down a deer. But carefully, he stalks forward, swishing his tail. Then, when he draws close, the rabbit turns and stares him in the face. Dimitri tells himself it's easy to kill, that he should leap forward and crush the rabbit's throat. But then the rabbit speaks in a voice that is so noble and refined that Dimitri pauses.

"You've been spotted," says the rabbit, his ears held high. "I hope you know I can outrun you, child. But I can see the softness in your eyes. Are you truly a killer?"

"I..." He wasn't expecting the prey to talk back. "I want to impress my mother."

"Impress your mother by letting her know you've met the direct descendant of the First Rabbits," the rabbit says proudly. "An Emperor of rabbits. A man who knows the future of rabbit-kind and how the wolves can serve its purpose." A sly smile crosses the rabbit's face. "And if you spare my life, we can be in talks. Warrens emptied, slaves delivered to feed your young, spies upon your enemies. For wolf lands matter not to us, and wolves cannot tell the difference between intruding rabbits and those who live there."

Dimitri's ears pin back against his head. "You... you keep slaves? You would... feed them to wolves?"

Smug, the rabbit laughs. "It is the way of rabbit-kind, as your life is a way of slaughter. All rabbits die to the Blood-crazed. Certainly we can appease your cravings, though."

"Blood-crazed?"

"Those born of the Earth, who have tasted the blood of rabbits." The rabbit stares him down. "You are one of them. Surely you know the craving of blood in your mouth. To the earth spilled the blood of the Third Rabbits, and from the earth rose the first Blood-crazed."

Dimitri falls silent, feeling the horror creep in. His nature is to kill, then? That the earth would give him a hunger for blood...?

"But worry not," says the rabbit as he hops off. "I will find a way to bridge our kinds. Your nature... will not rule you forever, child." And then the Rabbit King is gone, leaving Dimitri alone to ponder the horror of his existence. Of the existence of all wolves.
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rolled a 13

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Violet didn't like to hunt, but she also hate losing. It was a constant duality of needing to work for it, and not wanting to make herself to a meager worker or otherwise dirt and grim.. Hunting always resorted to sore, mud-splattered paws while red would crimson her throat, and while for a moment she felt like a ferocious woman — it was not easy to get out of fur. The group was off to hunt, and she didn't run forth like some, just made her way.. Circling back.. To the caches.

And that's what she 'hunted,' by finding one of the piles and yanking a rabbit from the ground. She particularly took a fresh one.. Then rolled her eyes knowing well this wouldn't be believed if she didn't have some blood on her, and with high reluctance.. Smothered some on her chin, and around her mouth. Violet could say she just got lucky, the rabbit just happened to be sleeping, or something.

Would anyone really call her out? So she would circle around, and return with her 'caught' prey.

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rolled d14

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Sreda had nothing to prove, really.
  (But of course she did.)

She'd learned so much from Auntie and Mother. How to stalk. How to track. How to kill.

And she would emerge victorious, as she assumed she would.

Snatching up the rabbit was easy. She was larger now, and much more elegant. It was easy to sneak up on the creature, for it was stupid and simple; stuffing it's face with grass and grain. It did not notice the menace that approached from the dissonance. And Sreda would approach in such a way that would not give her away from the rest.  For she'd learned.

If you were as simple as the shadow, the shadow you would be.

And a shadow she was.

And within a moment, the rabbit was dead.

And the blood pooled down Sreda's lips a she held the limp neck of the rabbit in her jaws.

But unlike Dimitri, the rabbit was insignificant. It was not a Rabbit King, no. Just the sacrifice to the Killer Queen herself; Sreda. And the girl did not understand the distress of the other and walked over to Dimitri softly. Blood was dripping gently from her jaws.

"Dimitri," She whispered to his cowering frame, solid amethyst eyes staring with unabashed harshness upon his quivering form. "You are the one. The source of righteousness," She breathed at him through puffs of crimson air, vengeance tickling the edges of her fangs. And it was clear, in those moments, that she was offering her sacrifice to him.

He could take her victory. He would win.
    Dimitri would either accept her offer, or he would leave it.
          Again, Sreda had nothing to prove.

She smiled, watching him closely as she dropped the dead rabbit at his jaws.

Wondering ...
 ... wondering if he'd accept the gift.

She half-smiled, eyebrows rising in inquiry.

SREDA is offering to TRADE her d14 for a d1 to @Dimitri  ... Let a home girl know ;)

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^^

rolled 10

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Orel flattened his ears immediately with a dejected sigh; watching the majority of his relatives take off in an excited jolt to do this hunt. How exactly was this supposed to be more fun than a regular hunt, that they had trained assassins for? A brow arched as he watched something genius happen.

Violet, the Monster of Elysium, turning back to steal from the cache to claim it as her hunted prey. He arched a brow, tilted his head, and decided that he’d copy her. So he’d bring his kill - and followed her, even coming to sit next to her with an innocent grin and wag of his tail.

^^
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tallie is sitting this one out due to her pregnancy but is present! The timeline is vague due to this, assume she told Valeska and co ahead of time due to conflicting post schedules!

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There was no denying her condition any longer. Her belly was round and swollen, expecting children of her own. But not just her own; Nikolai's too. He had a hand to play in this. The pair had kept largely to themselves during the weeks that followed, but she could not ignore Valeska's call for an event. With a gentle kiss on Nick's brow, she walked slowly to the gathering.

The pups were here, but she veered to sit near Valeska instead. She shot the pale alpha a warm smile as she settled, careful of her swollen belly. Tallulah watched the future hunters of Elysium play and also do their duties at once. Maybe one day she could train more than Dimitri and Alder. "They're doin' well." she comments to her friend, her tail wagging behind her wearily. She was much more tired these days.

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Accepting the offer of a 14

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@Sreda appears, the dark shadow to complement Dimitri's dark thoughts. He is a killer. He is born of blood. He is a monster, and now a failure.

And there is Sreda, deeper and darker than the swirls of his demons. She stands with a rabbit in her jaws, blood smearing her face. And her voice, a soft command. A soft wish. His trembling and twitching abates, and he stares at the kill.

"You... You'll show up with nothing," he starts, but he knows this is what Sreda wants. What she wishes to see. She'll insist, and given the dark forces of her persuasion, he will listen. He swallows hard, then bows his head. "I'll make this up to you." And how? "I know... where there's a ghost... And I'll show you."

A ghost. He's had visions of it for some time, in his nightmares and dreams. He knows she'll love it. And it'll make up for this. He takes the kill, wondering if also perhaps he could tell the truth if asked. That Sreda wanted him to win for her. To let the others know that deep down, she's a good person.

Or perhaps she doesn't want that.

Either way, in this moment, he adores her.
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14 for Zula

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The nature of this event came easy to the huntress. With so many wolves taking part though, even the pups, it was almost difficult to find something that wasn't scared away by the frequent rustling. As Valeska had said, those who find the biggest prey would succeed and while there were a lot of small rodents and leporidae, it wasn't enough for the competitive she-wolf. Instead she shuffled through the undergrowth and followed a group of particular scents that carried her into the woodlands that surrounded the basin. Deeper within the scent went from three, to two, and then finally to one in sheer luck. One of these beasts were enough to cause damage, but three was enough to scare Zula away from any attempt. 

Boar. 

Zula had heard a few of them had caused some trouble a little while back, though she didn't know the details. Valeska had disappeared, it was violent. These scents on pack land almost sent her into a moment of rage but to find them separated was enough to put her at ease. For now. She'd just have to pick them up one by one in a few days. With everything going on with the neighbouring pack, Zula almost wished she could send a stampede of the angered beats into their realm but such a dark thought was not necessary, it would only cause more pain. Instead she focused on the trail until she found a squat and tried to gather more information about her target.

She licked and tasted, felt it out and sufficiently concluded that this beast was a young adolescent. Sizeable, but still small. The size didn't matter at this point. The beast was alone, and vengeance was brewing in her gut. Stalking it took no time at all and despite the natural camouflage it possessed, Urszula found it with ease and crept through the forest with as much silence as she could while remaining downwind. It was on alert while it was alone but that was not enough. She pounce like a cat and saw the hunt through, pinning the creature to the floor and ripping into its neck, teeth digging through the flesh like butter all the while the pig screamed and wriggled. One single bone snapping bite down and it froze; silence. It's spine had broke. 

The kill was swift from there, though the squeals still echoed in her ears, as did a feeling of dizziness.

It was time to haul it back now though, and so she did with a wobble to her step and a hog at her side. When she arrived back to the dens, she presented her kill with a giddy grin before turning around and finding a spot leant against some rocks, her body begging to go back to bed while she settled into a seated position.

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Rolled a 14!

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It wasn’t that Nikolai cared little for this event, it was simply that he had more pressing matters on his mind—Tallulah, specifically; it was undeniable now that she was more than simply ill, she was pregnant and he wasn’t so slow as to not know where his part came in that. It brought him to fretting over her, perpetually at her beck and call though she hardly utilized his assistance like he hoped. 

But when this event was called forth, he was still intent to be active within it—his mind was a revered wanderer in this moment though, and when he returned with but a fat hare, anyone could safely assume his focus lay elsewhere; reasonably so. Whether he ascended ranks mattered little—it was a personal flaunt, he thought, for he could always help the pack immensely at his bare bones status.
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Roll: 19 - successful hunt

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A lively group with an abundance of festivities for the holidays, while the winter months made way to the freshly fallen snow, the scarcity of food was beginning to drain. What a joyous celebration to conquer with several wolves adjoining one another with the fire in their bellies to bring back the best of the best. Amphitrite was not so keen on the celebratory amendments, given… she had embarrassingly lost in the festivities of the harvest. Having been bested by a small individual she had claimed was quite deserving of such a reward. They after all held a high standing with finding the perfect place to hide.

The goddess heard the enchanting call of the others, they giddily accepted the challenge in hopes of being rewarded for coming back with a bountiful feast. It was settled, Amphitrite would try her best to feed those in the pack. The biggest game was to come out of this and she would use her skills to the test. Her maw would caress the ground, her nose drawing in various scents from those around her. Eyes drew to a scent trail she had picked up on, it was foreign to her nose. However, maybe that would lead her to that a large game to bring back for the celebration. Full bellies will be held tonight!

Paws would surge forward on the journey through the mountainous region, weaving her slim figure back and forth along the ashen trees. Nose hung low as she sniffed once again, the scent of blood - metallic and plentiful. A trail formed in the snowy trenches, along with the indentions of much larger paws. Intimidated by what she may find, she crept forward. Deeper into the wooden thickets. Nostrils flared as she watched a larger animal crouch between the trees. Blackened pelt with a deepened chestnut underbelly that was sliced from one corner to the other. Whatever dealt him that pain had landed quite the blow. Puffs of smoke blew from the bear’s nostrils and the innards no longer would stay impacted inside of the meaty flesh. With each movement, it was bound to falter and surely enough he failed to get to where he was headed.

Knowing there was no way she would be able to bring such a prize back to the others, her head would lift. Howling for assistance with the large prey she had found. Perhaps it would be called cheating that she did not kill him herself. Though… who is to say that tracking is not as successful as bared teeth to the flesh?

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not partaking, just helping be judgemental and shit, XD

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The cold breeze brushed through her coat, tingling against her spine. The tingling anticipation of the hunt gathered like a brewing electricity in the air, and Amaranth drank it in slowly as she walked toward the fabled meeting place. Snow spit in her face as she traveled forward, chasing after the silver glow of her mate ... that form that glittered so perfectly in the winter hues.

For it was Valeska's element.
And Amaranth sneezed, snow fluttering out of her left nostril.

The woman approached, the scent of blood hovering over the Respite like a delicate blanket as their friends and family hunted in the distance around them. But Amaranth made her way slowly toward Valeska, settling down with a comfortable smile on her lips. A soft shudder spread through her frame as she pressed softly into the other. No words were needed, and the golden woman awaited to see what prizes the pack would bring.

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Alder hated competitions.

He especially hated the kind where you had to blend into things and, you know, not be seen. He shot a disparaging glance at his flame-red hindquarters, cursing the heavens for his misfortune, but knew it would make Mama happy if he joined.

It was apparently important to her that he try and participate for the 'sake of the pack' and to 'try and make friends' or something.

Heaving a ragged sigh, the boy picked himself up and trudged off heavily through the snow, fully expecting to return empty-pawed when it was all over. He was useless. A sore thumb. There was no point even try-

-ing?

His ears pricked forward, and he instinctively crouched into the snow, trying to conceal himself. A chubby mouse scuttled haphazardly up ahead; it was no hare (curse them, too), but it was something. The wolf flattened himself as much as he could, moving forward in short, halting steps as he struggled to match the timing of the rodent's gaze as it turned away to searched for predators.

Just... a little closer...

Alder pounced, mimicking the foxes he had seen hunting from afar, and felt something warm and soft give way within his jaws.

Success.

Relieved he at least had something to bring back, the boy trotted in the direction of the clearing, deposited his prey in front of Valeska with a sheepish look, and hurried off toward a corner.

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More had chosen to participate than she thought - the weather was less than ideal, and she assumed most would be sleeping or off enjoying their own hobbies, wiling away the hours and trying to keep warm. Valeska was quite pleased with the number of pups eager to join in, and thought it a fun opportunity to begin honing some of their developing skills in the ways of the hunt - even if they couldn't necessarily bring anything back.

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@Akira returned first. She thought something was seriously wrong, initially, with the unsteady way he schlupped toward her and sat by her side with big, watery eyes. Concerned, she leaned in to give him a reassuring lick; he simply shivered by way of response and buried his head into her ruff, and she realized he was crying.

The boy had not been successful.

Valeska felt a ghost of a smile tugging at her lips, but she remained serious for his sake, ruffling his fur in a gentle, comforting motion. “Oh, do not be sorrowful,” she said, “Even I still return from half of my hunts with empty paws. This is a difficult challenge even in ideal conditions - do not fret. There will be plenty more chances for us to play again.”

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@Dimitri took a little longer to reappear, and when he did, it was - strange.

He was strange.

He looked... perturbed.

Valeska opened her mouth to ask what had happened, but the haunted expression of his eyes told her not to inquire.

Instead, he approached her with utmost decorum, and wordlessly deposited a fresh, plump hare at her paws before turning around in a single motion to retreat to his post. The kill had been clean and precise, with minimal blood spilled and only the faintest puncture marks of fangs to denote what had occurred.

She looked at him quizzically, but he had already drifted away and taken his seat.

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Now, @Violet. It wasn't that she didn't believe her daughter capable of providing for herself - or of learning useful skills -or participating in any sort of activity that might be called 'work' - but Valeska wasn't a fool, and she knew the girl was crafty. Avoidant.

How unusual that she wanted to participate.

Even moreso that she returned with something.

The girl walked toward her mother, head high and haughty, blood flecked appropriately across her muzzle. Valeska reached out with a paw to tip her chin up and observe more carefully, but could find... nothing amiss. Still, something was bothering her. It just wasn't right that Violet actually followed instructions and had actually completed the task given.

She leaned down and bit into the rabbit as a test. It was... cool. Quite cool. But still not cold enough to have laid in the cache, which was her first thought.

Valeska straightened. “Next time, do not let is sit for so long,” she said, a hint of disbelief still coloring her tone. Nevertheless, Violet had succeeded, and she could not argue with that.

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Until @Orel rolled up very shortly after his cousin with a very similarly-sized rabbit clutched within his little russet jaws, and the overly confident way he flung his prize down at Valeska's paws before taking a seat next to Violet, grinning like a loon, gave her pause.

Muttering something unintelligible under her breath, she leaned down and made the same experimental bite - and found his to be quite a bit colder than his cousin's. Her eyes flew open, realizing she had been duped.

But... they were children. Orel, especially, was innocent. He didn't deserve to be punished for following along Violet's whims.

This time.

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The silver wolf nearly jumped out of her skin when @Urszula sashayed back into the clearing, flinging bits of snow hither and thither with her errant stride, dragging a young boar after her with the most absurd expression plastered across her face. It had not been long since her unfortunate concussion in Ullarcraig Run, and Valeska's first concern was brain damage.

Oh, my gods.

She had not even considered how to treat such a thing -

- but Zula deposited the boar with flourish, giving a sassy little shimmy in her hips, and retreated (eventually, in a fumbling series of steps) toward a nearby boulder upon which she rested.

It was an excellent kill. Clearly she was still... capable... but perhaps full recovery might take a little more time. Valeska smiled back nervously, wagging her tail in lieu of a little friendly wave.

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One character who participated that she also did not expect was @Nikolai. Tallulah's condition was not a secret any longer, and it was clear to all present who the father was - the way he continually fretted over her comfort and well-being was heartwarming, and she fully expected him to sit this one out to better attend his mate.

However, she surprised him, and he dutifully set off through the snow with a single-minded look behind his eyes.

To return as quickly as possible, and successfully - which he did.

Nik made swift work of his errand, tossing his kill into the clearing with little ceremony, before striding back to Tallulah and taking his place at her side. The High Priestess smiled.

They were good together.

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Valeska had no idea how long @Sreda had been there.

She looked somewhere off to her right - on a whim, really - and realized she was staring eye-level at her daughter's fluffy ears. A strangled noise lost its way somewhere in the back of her throat, but she recovered quickly, forcing her heart rate to slow as she took several deep, calming breaths to center herself.

Gods.

“Sreda, you - do not have anything?” she asked, searching the ground around her. The girl stared benignly back, expression blank. “I - did you - did you even try?”

Gentle, silent snowfall.

Clearing her throat and ruffling out her fur, Valeska turned back to face the clearing and its occupants. “Well... next time, you should - you should try it. Participating, I mean. You might have... fun,” the woman stuttered, clearly at a loss for words.

Sreda blinked.

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Well, now, it was nice to see @Alder playing along. Valeska knew he didn't enjoy her games, and he had a particular distaste for hunting lately ever since some incident with a hare, but he set off nevertheless and made an effort.

It was a shame, really. He was such a strong young thing, even for his age, already head and shoulders above his siblings, but he just didn't have any fire. Alder would make a great hunter if only he could overcome his terrible self-confidence - Violet and her cruel teasing didn't help any, but if he could at least try, he might catch his stride eventually.

He took a little longer than the others, likely due to his explosive fur color impeding the hunt, but he eventually came back with a small prize clenched between his teeth.

It was a small thing - a mouse - but Valeska beamed encouragingly. “You see? It is the constant pursuit of a thing that shall grant you success - you must not give up,” she said, but he had already turned away.

Her face fell.

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@Tallulah and @Amaranth remained seated nearby, the two ladies chatting idly while the game commenced (or at least in Amaranth's case, stared out somewhere into the void whilst Tallulah made small-talk with Nikolai). The golden Augur pressed uncomfortably into Valeska's side, shuddering against the cold; she was not made for such conditions, and her mate tried to keep her warm, flinging an arm around her as she attempted to smother Amaranth in as much of her own silver-white fur as she could.

Poor thing. Tallulah was also brave, sitting out here in the chill, but she was a hardy sort of woman and didn't like to miss a thing. It couldn't be good for -

A howl broke the silence. @Amphitrite's voice rang out in the still air, slicing through the falling snow as crisp as a knife. Valeska's ears swiveled back, pinpointing the sound. She had found something large enough she couldn't bring back on her own, and so now she summoned the rest of the pack to her aid - what in the world could it be?

Motioning for the others to follow, the little wolf set off through the snow.

Amphitrite had traveled far in her short span of time, and the High Priestess found herself growing tired as she struggled to follow her packmate's scent weaving among the bone-white trees. A line of wolves trotted close behind her, all equally intrigued, and it was only after a little while that they finally reached the trail's end.

A bear. It had died gruesomely, steaming entrails emptied across the snow beside it, but - it was enormous.

“My gods,” she whispered excitedly, her breath coming out in plumes of steam. Valeska turned back to the participants, raising her head to speak over the small crowd gathered. “The hunt has concluded! Amphitrite has won first, by way of the largest prey - she may choose for herself any carcass to return to her den tonight, and receive a promotion toward the pursuit of her best interests and skillset.”

The silver wolf smiled. “There are multiple winners today for your efforts - Dimitri, Zula and Nikolai returned with the second-best kills, and shall all choose their desired paths today or ascend in their field as well. Now, my friends -”

She looked up toward the snow, closing her eyes as it collected upon her silken brow.

“Let us try and bring this bear back to the dens, and we will eat well tonight.”

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