[Venus]

Lightning crackled across the sky, lights flashed following the sound as it threatens to spill rain any minute now. Chocolate orbs gazed upward to the sky, black nose wiggled as it inhales deeply to take in the humid air in hopes to capture any particular scents. It was different from her home. Trees grew sparse in the area with grass that reached under her stomach. She was new to the area but has traveled so far to see more and do more. With no one else in sight, she released a deep sigh and allowed her muscles to slouch as she relaxed for a moment. Stiff limbs remained still while Venus observed the area carefully. The creatures that roamed the land did not seem to mind the weather nor the predator that stood at a distance.

Her gaze flicked in their direction as she watched with hungry eyes, wanting to leap in and grab a meal, but it would rain soon and uncertainty began to weigh down on her decision. A droplet that fell from the sky plopped right on her nose, she blinked a few times then shook her head before glancing upward. It began to rain. A groan escaped her lips, “Of course this would happen…” The weather made the decision for her, she would make an attempt to hunt before she called it a day. The herd of deer stood down the hill from her position, the rain disguised her scent, making it difficult for them to decent her. Now would be her time to strike. Venus moved slowly, her body hunched low to position herself closely; she paused a few time when they became suspicious of their surrounding but they made no attempts to leave.

The pink tongue flicked out from her maw, smacking against her lips and muzzle. She grew impatient. A low growl rumbled in her throat, one paw hovering over the ground and her eyes locked on to the fattest one. All she needed was a signal. The female’s body remained locked in her position; muscles began to ache but she kept still for as long as possible just waiting. Suddenly, lightning flashed across the sky once more, startling the herd to flee the area with the brown wolf now chasing after them. Her legs pumped hard against the wet ground to shake after the fleeing herd with the intent of taking down at least one of them. Her target suddenly sprinted away from the herd, forcing Venus to make a sharp turn in pursuit of it with her maw parted open just slightly. She flung herself forward, claws quickly attaching itself to the deer’s leg and bringing it down.

It was a struggle at first. The deer merely escaped her clutches had she not reacted so quickly. Her jaw clamped around its legging, biting down hard to prevent it from fleeing her grasp. She made her move for its jugular, closing her maw around it to close the airway slowly. The deer trashed and screamed, but it fell silent soon enough with no other movement coming from it. It was a successful hunt for the female.

[Reath]

The sound of lightening echoed throughout forest carrying the stale scent of the coming rain on its breeze however all this wasn't necessary to know that a storm was coming. The usual blue expanse of the sky above was now an endless mass of churning dark clouds. It seemed that Ulva would have to call it a day and wait out the storm. After all she could always hunt tomorrow. The large red and tan female began to make her way to the den that she had made on the other side of the field. Normally she would have just kept walking but there was movement to the right that caught her attention. Luminous yellow eyes narrowed and she could just make out the silhouettes of a herd of deer feeding in the open field; it would be a perfect opportunity but the threat of foul weather overshadowed her need to feed. Even if she had followed through with her first instinct she would not be able to store the kill properly with the mud and rain pouring down much less move it closer to her den. The fringe dire was content to know that the herd was nearby; if she woke early enough she might be able to get a jump on a sleeping buck or doe. Thunder rolled lazily across the sky and alerted the wolf that it would be best if she continued on her way but the jerking heads of the deer towards the other side of the field caused Ulva to pause in her journey once more. Eyes narrowing Ulva scanned the shadows for anything out of place but the land was darker than usual and the woods were cast into shadow leaving little to nothing to be seen with the naked eye. Ulva was standing upwind too so she couldn't get the scents that lingered down there.

Did they sense a hidden danger she wondered briefly and what, or who, was desperate enough to go for a hunt with the storm getting closer. Finding the answers to these questions seemed to become top priority as the broad female slunk down to the ground and carefully made her way around the herd. Her aim was to move to a spot where her scent wouldn't alert what ever occupants within the vicinity to her presence. All the while she kept vigilance of the now skittish deer down below. She had just managed to get into a decent spot when the crack of lightening boomed loudly within the small area and, as if they had all been struck by the stray bolt, the deer began to scatter every which way. Eyes darted across the chaotic scene down below and zeroed in on a figure dashing through the long grass towards a doe which had gotten confused and scared broke away from the fleeing mass. A bad move on its part for the hunter now focused on the lone deer allowing the rest of the herd to flee. Once the doe fell to the ground the fringe dire knew that it was over.

Ulva was still curious about who had been hunting at this time but highly doubted that her appearance would be warmly greeted. Instead she raised herself to her full height and made her way closer to the successful hunter. She would keep her distance but wanted to know who was close to her den. Ulva had lived here for three years and in all that time she had never encountered another predator before. She made it her goal to keep herself out of others 'mini territories' to avoid headaches of those acting tougher than they were. Often trying to push Ulva around and see if she would fall over on her back like some pitiful dog. Instead, from those interactions she did have, she sent blood and fur flying. It definitely got her a wider birth since then but after a year of peace maybe her quiet living was being challenged again...or maybe this hunter was just passing through.

"Brave or Ignorant," she called out when she was within earshot of the feeding hunter, "I find myself unable to answer that question...what say you hunter?"