He knew of her wary gaze, the way her body often wired itself to a direction of escape. She was different from his previous, Hale. With her, everything had gone relatively smoothly, well until the end that is. But still, this suffocating disinterest was a first, her stare inspecting him with cool caution. And although she kept herself still, he had noticed the slice of tension and suspicion settling uncomfortably in her pelt. Near every step forward he took, she paced back. But the male remained patient, almost curiously watching her whip her head back, pointedly laying her stare on the vibrant plant with a change of position. She had rested her simplistic colored haunches against the supple soil, the thick blades of grass stretching almost methodically around her furry hips, vibrating concurrent to the rustling breeze rumbling gently overhead. Once her response finally came; even and whetted, Jairo stiffened, slanting his piercing vision as a curious smile began a crisp stretch of his jowls. His brother bounced forward, stamping his paw as a bothered grumble rattled about his throat. How funny. Maybe he should have Jade try it out.

“Oh?” At her final answer, the eldest would launch himself forward, flattening himself against her smaller physique in a heavy tackle. The herbage surrounding shuddered in anticipation, the rhythmic chirps bellowing resoundly between the thick branches above. He let his pasty paws drift on either side of her head, his lips furling delicately in quick reveal of parted teeth. “What would you do if I dove for your neck right now?” With an indecipherable look eating at his eyes and the whispering sike closeby, Jairo’s head dipped in a quick lurch, but at the very moment where his jaws would connect to her throat, he rocked himself away, hopping his body just above her lying figure in a taunting motion.

Together, the two brothers knocked humorously against each other, their bouts of low laughter in tune with the sporadic beat of their paws. “Alright, let's get outta here.” The eldest finally rumbled, flicking his tail in a settling twitch. Jade huffed triumphantly, despite his own little interests in the cautious dame, it felt..good to, for once, not be on the receiving end of his siblings' antics. And yet, the male found himself scampering briskly over towards her side, peering about her lithe physique curiously. “Sorry if you were hurt.” He had whispered, then turning and fluffing his thick coat in mild excitement, like he had absorbed some type of adrenaline from the entire ordeal. “What’re we doing now Jairo?” Jade had yipped, his legs lifting high and then falling light in a bumbling prance. Before he had received any type of answer, Jairo had cocked his head back, directing his dark stare towards the maidens' grass rubbed pelt. “You, come with us. We’ll get you home safe.” Training his vision on the eager yearling, he’d then speak. “We’ll escort her to her little friends, grab Kenze, and check out that elk scent I discovered earlier. It's about time for another lesson, yeah?”

“Eh..--can’t we just..leave her here?” The younger had calmed his voice after a moment's exuberant gasp. His ears jerked flimsily in a way that’d rid himself of the gliding leaf overhead. They had only strolled a step or two below the shedding trees, but of course, their journey had faltered, awaiting a response from the opposing. But then Jairo had inched forward, swaying his head in a meteoric beckon. “We’ll even throw in some practical training along the way. You need it.” Again, there rested an underlying satirical, his frame driven forward and his shoulders bumping gently against hers, encouraging her movement. He hadn’t really taken any feelings into consideration. Whether she be frightened, or angry, it’s not like he’d be going anywhere. She’d need to learn some compliance, and he’d be the one to teach it to her. In obedient step, Jade fell in pace beside his sibling, pricking his ears in mild temptation. They had been gone much too long. Surely Kenze would be frantic by now. And before long, an uneasy clench of his jaw would flex its presence across the yearling's face. “I’m not a fan of formalities but it’d be nice to know the name of my trainee.”

Her behavior to his little..display, it had obviously not been reciprocated well, begrudgingly hobbling along with an extent of space between them. Even refusing to speak her own name, though not without searing mumbles underneath. Hah, she had even insulted his smile, her words revealing its bothersome intent. The residential cuticles, spiny exterior of a fanned bush, brushed relentlessly against his waist, tearing at the small strands of his pelage. With this, the male had moved, shifting his vision relative to the dawning horizon with a near jaded expression. Her mild retort to his mention had elicited a turn, his paws flexing irritably against the ground in a rushed sprawl. “Why the interest?” Jairo repeated, squinting at the sun which gleamed innocently upon the both of their thick coats, warming the spring vegetation with concentrated heat--its steady accomplice the swelling clouds which had gradually begun to burst with heavy liquid. “You’re a young, healthy female. Knowing that, I want to stuff you with knowledge so you’ll taste better when I finally decide to eat you. I like my food smart, you know?” He spoke in an intricate manner, starting off truthfully but then spiraling down in a fit of facetious flames.

As the rain graced the land with a dainty pour, tapping periodically against his dampened head and rump, the male would begin an almost restless pace, perked nose quivering with every intake of smell. It wasn’t until he finally heard the thundering of paws that Jairo straightened, bounding forth in a speedy skim of the grassy meadow ahead. It was fast, as well as his relaxment. The brothers had regrouped, Jade's body almost writhing in a pleased wriggle, his tail slapping violently against his wet haunches. Kenze swung his forelegs across the eldest’s back, their excited yips and barks barely contained with the rest of their excitement. Maybe Jade had revealed the news. The news of a hunt.

Shaking the yearlings off and trotting back towards the stubborn dame, Jairo clacked his jaws heavy beside her pliant tail, a slackened resurrection. “We’re moving out.” He announced, pasting his usual smirk about his face, a side of his lip disobediently sticking to his dry gums. By now, everything had become laden with an additional scent, a wet scent. Everything smelled wet. Them, the grass beneath their paws, and most likely that elk odor he had caught on to earlier. But nonetheless, the male had padded on, his hips fixed in a soft sway with every lengthy stride he took, tail rubbing comfortable between his milky white thighs. “We’ll call this lesson the.. ‘don’t fucking kill yourself’, hows that sound?” Kenze scoffed, flicking his eyes in a slow roll. His skinny legs pumped vigorously against the earth, claws caked uncomfortably in muddy soil. “Tell that to her, not us.” He sniffed, casting a nasty stare onto the stranger close beside him. “Why is she even here?”

“Because if she tries to go off on her own she’ll surely die.” Jairo declared, his statement a purposeful deterrent to any possible imagine of early departure. Be a good girl and stay. “--At least not without this practice.” After about two heartbeats, he halted, jowls parting as a gust of humid wind flowed turbulent down his throat, melting the carried scent of prey upon the inner roof of his mouth. This’d be a good time to start. “Alright, if any of you have such a hope of surviving in this arduous life, you’ll have to learn how to track in the rain first.” A small, deep growl had lumbered from his jaws, simultaneous to his turn back to his set of pupils. “All of you, begin. Successfully find the whiffs of elk and then lead to it. Our next meal is on you.” But before officially closing, he added. “But then again the actual hunt may fail. Well, don’t get your hopes up ya little dumbasses.” Swiftly swirling to face the female, the male would cluck his tongue in recognition. “Even if you know how to do this, don’t get cocky. Participate and check out your competition. Hone your skills. And if you really don’t know how to track, then I wish your harebrained self good luck.”

The boys had already galloped off, snarling at each other from time to time with daring fangs. “Get off my trail!”

“What do you mean? Idiot- this is my trail.”

All the while the rain had grown weighted, accumulating in size and darkening the sky with gloomy, sporadic gales twitching splenetically in its gray puffs of cloud. Jairo would saunter, his paws slapping sloppy against the dirt-cased ground, fueled by the clustering liquid and fusing into slippery mud. He didn’t really care to play as anyone's shadow. If they found the herd, he’d be alerted and quicken his pace is all, simple as that. No need to monitor that female either. At this point, the rest of her pack would be coming to them. Most likely they’d returned to their little dirt palace, discovered their missing member, and had now begun a mission of relocation. And yet there's always a chance he could be wrong. Who knows, he could have nothing to worry about, well, nothing to not worry about.

“Speed it up. I’m starving here.” He barked, loud and thunderous, similar to the rains intimidating thunks against the terrain.

Her head tilted then ever so slightly to the side, ears flicking as if scrutinizing the male. His little retort revolving around her question had her unimpressed, as if he had failed some invisible test that she never created. "And I like my food not to be a bore," she retaliated, gaze almost.. almost, flickering with amusement as her eyes swept his figure. Yes, I mean you, they seemed to say as they overlooked him. Though the odd part? She didn't know if he was truly jesting or not.

She spoke with an impenetrable expression mustered upon her defined features. The small conversation was cut off. The female then, stepping back, was nearly bombarded as the two figures could be seen approaching in the distance. Ears erect, her head raised. Could it be? Had Nakoa and Naeva found her so soon? However, upon further inspection, she had noted that it was, in fact, not her own group. "So, what is your relation? Cousins? Brothers?" She had finally asked as the trio arrived, beginning to yip and act giddy. Atelia had confirmed that the eldest was not a father, at least she didn't believe so. His behaviour was different.

Tail swaying and steps increasing in a sudden movement as the eldest clicked his teeth near her tail, she obeyed. It was an odd interaction she faced with the trio, one that the female had never encountered before. So, while the eldest led, she followed along, watching his actions and making mental notes. Anything to help Nakoa and Naeva.

Upon the words of the singular male that had been left behind, Atelia gazed at him. "Yes, because my plan was to get myself killed today. Thank you for the oh so pleasant reminder." Speaking in monotone, her eyes hopped from male to male.

Opening her maw a crack to speak, she had closed it gently when the eldest came to a sudden halt. Why was he pausing now? Why so abruptly and- Oh, she understood. A faint whift of elk drew past her nose and overtook her senses, and for a moment, she relished the smell, nose pointed upwards and inhaling sharply. Her first task was to track in the rain? She was sure that she could do it. Granted, Atelia had enough flaws tracking when no rain existed, so this would be a difficult ordeal. However, she was confident in herself and her nose.

All sense of earlier irritation now seemed to diminish, and the more she thought, the more she believed that perhaps she should have given her name and obtained theirs in return. It was ever so irritable referring them to "the eldest," or, "the younger male." Indeed, it was rather bothersome, not to mention confusing, so she turned to the older male. "Before we begin, names do sound rather nice right now." Pausing, she watched the three before releasing a sigh. Very well, she'd go first. "You may call me Atelia." She supposed that if they were willing to teach her something, then that was reason enough to offer her name.

Without another word, she watched the two younger ones run off as she was left with the remaining male. Blinking, she took off, moving swiftly, but hardly a run. Instead, she trotted, her tail bouncing behind her as she began to track the scent. If the rain bothered her, one could never tell, for she wore the same expressionless face as earlier. However, now, it was laced with a hint of emotion. Concentration could be seen, especially in the way her eyes narrowed and widened, maw parting when she managed to find a good track. Atelia had little tells that seemed to tell others of what she was thinking- if they looked closely enough.

She moved for a few meters, following a scent before halting. She had lost it. Lowering her muzzle to the ground, her nose began to inhale the grass at wondrous speeds. She began to walk slowly, inhaling, exhaling, and then inhaling again as she did so. Tan head snapping up, she had found the musky scent once more and set off in a diagonal direction to the east before halting once more. She had lost it. Again.

Oh, but she was determined, so she lowered her face again, practically planting it on the ground. So much so, that when she lifted her face once more, mud rested upon the tip of her proboscis. She didn't even stop to clean it, instead, resuming. She would repeat the same pattern until at last, she had found a solid scent. One that she believed could lead her to a herd. At this point, she had gone in circles, the other males easy to see, though remained in the distance.

She had stopped in her tracks then, staring back at them. She would alert them afterwards, but the way she stood now, if they were watching, would tell them that she had found something. Atelia stood for a moment longer before turning and resuming her tracks, following the scent that seemed to grow stronger the farther she ventured off. She would remain moving for a good amount of time, and when she approached a mile, Atelia still continued.

It was an empty terrain where they currently walked, the ground also producing hills. So, when Atelia neared the top of one and looked over, she was ecstatic to see the brown bodies of elks roaming around. Tail wagging behind her and eyes brightening, she turned to face the direction of the others. She made no vocalizations, instead, lowered her body to the ground. They would understand her movement, the way they said, "hey, I found something!"

Patiently, the female waited for the others to approach.

Every now and then, Jairo’s stare had trickled onto that of the underbrush, thick spiny trees bordering the blanked territory they trekked upon, swallowed in an assortment of fluffy browse, lengthy logs convulsing with miniscule life; and the young tendrils curling tentatively around its dark ridges. He’d spot a fox, its face patterned with soft reds and rusted browns, chest blooming with white tufts of fur which’d be overcome by the lurking black packed in large splotches on its lower legs. Of course at the perked notice, the little canine had begun to shrink back, downy looking tail bristling in its own startlement. Jairo had no interest in pursuing it, for its pelt was crimson, not tawny.

Its face small and snout thin, possessing no slanted eyes and the resilience of a roach. Only just after the small creature gyrated and dove beneath the cascading branches, the male had fixed his head forward, the sagging fur benched on his shoulder jostling gently with each heavy step.

The yearlings had progressed on ahead, their bodies rocking wildly in tune with the rapid pump of their legs. Jades muzzle had loosened, his hued tongue flying sloppily from the depths of his capsuled mouth. It seemed as if it were a race. Well, it technically was, but his brothers, they had butted heads, fighting over the same scent, losing it, and then sprinting hastily over towards another.--Stepping on each other's tails. It had become so excessive that eventually, the male had reeled himself forward, advancing quickly on their scruffs with snarling fangs.

“Stop embarrassing yourselves.” Jairo had snapped, embedding nothing slight of incisors into their insensitive napes. There was a brief spout of whines, Kenze’s tail had tucked protectively between his hindquarters, brushing floaty against his ankles. “Look at her.” He’d nod his head at the drifting figure of their opponent, her frame padding carefully about the washed, diverse ground. He could tell her caution, the way she’d pause, nose trembling whilst calm, focused eyes melted back onto the nibbled stems below. “She’s got something. Follow close behind.” With adequate speed, the trio swung their legs in a slowly accelerating trot, irritated grumbling passed quietly between the two yearlings; discontentment. As they briskly cantered towards the upsurging hills, growing particularly in size with each nearing heartbeat, Kenze raced forward, hopping over the victor's frame; an easy feat with her low crouch. “Good job.” The grouchy little yipped, his tone softened and ears flickering wildly with the rushing of his innards, chest bubbled with anticipation. Jairo shouldered himself through, bobbing his head at the dame in approval.

“Nice, Atelia.” Earlier, when she had finally passed her name due to the reluctance of conflict, he had ignored her simply out of spite. Though not the bitter kind, the kind where a drooping frown would inflict itself upon his snout. He had wanted a reaction, something specific, but during the competitive squabble of incompetent young wolves, the idea had gotten lost along the way. “Jade, Kenze, Jairo.” He had eventually commented, a low snicker cracking subtly from his shifting lips. “Take a guess.” With that said, the eldest would bend his paws in a brief leap, claws clacking soundly against a jagged stone which jutted smoothly from the colossal incline, braced in jade moss which had flown from its desperate clutch; paws falling rough on the fuzzy green. “And those two are my chumps.” He’d casually call back, body geared in a small stagger as he met solid ground. The responses were late, but at least they were there, take it and be grateful.

Stealthily, Jairo crept into the bush, the blissful elk nothing but nut colored bodies with long graceful legs, settled casually on a steady plateau, fortunately, a good deal away from the tall, firmly rooted evergreen up ahead, the tree’s glowering leaves dwindling down onto the forest floor, pelted by merciless rain and winding branches. “Keep low, stay behind.” He warbled, feeling the enthused shivers of neighboring coats slight against his sides. Despite his nonchalance, his own appetite had never dwindled, rather enlarging with every passing day. He’d be leading this hunt, and if any of those damn idiots spoiled the chances of success, they’d be lying limp between his own jaws. He skirted nimbly about the brush, pausing at a wide stump with erect ears and twitching maw, falling open in a gentle pant whilst his vision scissored through the inactive herd, eyeing the nurtured calves with piqued interest. “Atelia.” He’d call, cocking his jowls in her guessed direction, but stare planted elsewhere. “Go around.” It was a simple order but sensible enough to understand. The initial plan would be a rush. He’d sprint towards the oblivious prey, thick vegetation turned up by stiff claws, and hopefully cause a scatter. From there, if one falls in range of her plausible chase, then it should be relatively smooth, for the element of surprise would be on their side--not to mention fierce jaws snapping ruthlessly at their ankles. It’d be a calf. An easier target, an easier victim. Smaller meal but food nonetheless, the best cuisine.

And if that were to fail, then they’d be stuck with a prolonged chase, bounding through tall grasses which would tickle their chests and dodging protruding twigs which could roll their paws. And shit they’d have to hurry..who knows how much time they have left.

“Should I go with her? Make sure she’s doing things right? How can we trust her to make a take down?”

“ Sure, go ahead. A twerp like you can surely take on a calf without getting your head bashed in by the mothers hoof.” Responded a sarcastic other, nothing but a wry, unimpressed chuckle blowing past his cracked jaws. “No, you two stay by me. Help me spook them, and then dive in to aid the kill.” Jairo spoke positively, leaving the endless possibilities of failure unspoken, they already knew. They should know. Hah if they didn’t then maybe he should be concerned, for their lives that is. “But-” Jade had started, and yet his elder brother had finished. “None of you shrimps better trip, panic, or get in my way.” Smoothly, the male would slink, his pads batting soft against the ground, tail slumped but perked just above his thighs; oozing a spike of cool confidence. How many days has it been since he’s eaten? Four? Five? Damn, he’s lost count. And the one carcass that he had traversed upon, only three heartbeats and a guttural grizzly had lumbered from the blanketing trees, claiming the carcass with none but a sniff.

This time, he refused to leave these grounds without a sated stomach, nor bloody lips.--Simple pride glowing happily and sapping in each movement of his body. Maybe even a certain, fawn colored female in tow. We’ll see. Only a bit ago, he had felt her presence slip, dancing gait weaving nimbly through the shuffling undergrowth, crawling carefully to the most desirable position. And even if she did emit a sound, a cacophony of snaps, a disgruntled awakening of squealing birds from a bed of ferns, the thrumming of leaping liquid would have drowned it all out, slapping carelessly against trembling vegetation which would surely cushion its fall; deadening it even. He would have thanked the rain if not for the soil soaked neatly between his paws, excess liquid squelching from between furry toes like a swollen abscess.

He and his brothers, slowly attracted to the herd like sleepy flies towards a carcass, they had drawn near, only about two yards away at this point, ducking behind the crackling leaves of a large thicket, irradiant gaze multiplied once familiar pelts had knocked gentle against his own, the two yearlings flanking his sides and analyzing the tolerant elk with scrutiny. The sky had dulled, darkening with nothing but a sweet tangerine dripping beautifully upon the horizon afar; a pleasing panorama.

But..there was something off, something almost inexplicable. The way the vocalizing prey snapped their heads and tensed their limbs, eyes directed fiercely..--cautiously, towards a particular expanse, close where Atelia lay. Had she been spotted? That quickly? --when her only task was to sit still and remain in quietude, allow the cackling cloud above to deafen the elk's senses. Surely she couldn’t be that useless. Jairo shifted uncomfortably, head reeling upwards in a soft, slow raise, ears flickering in attempted deciphering. Now, the feeble creatures had begun to still, long necks without carefree sway and short tassels lifted in vigilance. “Move.” The eldest had muttered, voice low but nonetheless urgent. Yet only moments after his command, there came an unsettling rumbling of hooves, large umber bodies racing towards their stalled frames with haunting speed. “Move!” Jairo had repeated, though much louder this time. With defined haste, his back protuberances hunched in a powerful leap, right over Jade's back, lengthy appendage whipping carelessly about his flocculent fundament. There came frightened shrieks and then the crashing of the bush, the elk scattering amongst the trees with their heads flung back and ears peeled close to their skulls. He had little time to tilt his flying gaze back to check on the boys, for now, they’d have to save themselves. The male drove into the clearing, doing his damned best to hop from flailing hooves but still knocking faintly against the cowed frames of sprinting calves.

What the hell was going on? Steadily, his vision had cleared, blinking away the dribbling moisture which had coated his face, blanketing it in wet, distracting water, a gift from the ruthless ether..that was sarcasm. Quickly, he had noted the flash of timber and cream colored fur, familiar but then not at the same time, muscular limbs, flexing shoulders whilst strong jaws gaped in purposeful nips at the scrambling creatures' ankles. The males legs thumped heavy followed by large paws, dark claws scraping up loose soil with every turbulent turn. Ah, it was that sibling of hers. And knowing that, his mate shouldn’t be far behind. It seems they’ve returned, come to collect their packmate or perhaps cast her out. At this moment, it wasn’t any of his business. In spite of his collectiveness, his shaggy pelt had begun to bristle in fury, eyes wintry and tranquil but strong fangs slathered in not only bloody purpose, but strings of saliva which would break from the pressuring echo of a feral snarl. His snout had wrinkled, physique settled in an unsurprising leer. But before he could exact any sort of revenge for the shriveling fruits of his labor, a body had knocked hard against him, thrusting his frame into oncoming traffic. “T-there was an elk!..” Jade had yipped, but a second later and his ears had flattened with a mortified look marinating his features,-- the supposed elk bounding gracelessly over the yearlings dropping cower.

“What did you do!?” Kenze practically screamed, sopping pelt encasing his body in a soft shiver. “You killed him!” The young male approached, emitting nothing short of a whine as his prodding nose brushed frantically at Jairo’s limp figure. “You killed him, you colossal idiot! I’ll never forgive you!”

“Don’t be so mean Kenze.” Came a disrupting cough, the previous “carcass” lifting himself onto all but one paw, back leg tucked secure against his belly, cascading in an ugly dangle. “Let's get outta here.” Apologetically, Jade rushed his front, lapping worriedly at his jaws and repeatedly mewling at how sorry he was. Not even a second after, Kenze had followed, failing to wipe the look of distraught completely from his eyes. The yearling had clacked his shoulder against the eldest in silence, only snapping once at his brother to either help or get out their damn way. And from there, the trio had begun a hurried limp into the far shelter off the pines. Tails were tucked, eyes were shut, voices were loud in apologies and sobs, they were a hot mess. And still, Jairo had managed a complete facade, blankly staring at what was ahead of him,--thinking of Atelia in numerous ways. Was she really worth all this

Well what does it look like sweetheart? What do you think? Jairo had sneered, albeit inwardly, his eyes smoked over by indistinct emotion. It was odd. Was he angry? Sad? Content? Surely it could not be the latter. I mean, his leg was fucked, repugnant pain searing softly throughout his flattened limb. It clearly differed from the delicious type, the type of hurt where it almost felt good. Like when one presses their itch a tad too far against a protruding thorn. Fanning his gaze about Atelias relatively uninjured physique; if she could peer into his mind about now, perhaps she’d be revolted. Maybe he’d have scared her off for good. --Struck with the fantasy of twinning, and allowing it to settle comfortably in his mind, vengeful imagines kindling near dark about his soothed thoughts. And with his collapse of head, followed by a quick undulating motion, the males jaded gaze would suspend, pieces of detritus flinging from his fur, coiled taut by seeping moisture. “I’m alright.” He had lied, simplistically eyeing her flapping tail whilst it brushed ticklish against his face; the dame’s inspection commenced in a curt circle, cracking the brothers apart in the process.

“You’re sorry?” The puny yearling began, but just as he had done to Atelia, Kenze had been interrupted by a disturbing grumble, connecting eyes with that of disgusted, pale orange. The tension in his muscles had cinched, pulling himself in the cover of Jairo’s darkened hips with a foul expression lingering cautiously from above. Jade had kept himself rooted, ears flicking dangerously whilst his own eyes drove towards the dominant with fiery scrutiny. Oh, what a predicament. This was pretty much the worst outcome one could receive, near bludgeoned by crazed elk and then cornered by your interest and her babysitters; hostility glowing greedily about slanted eyes. But despite the towering odds, the eldest had wired his jowls in click, incisors accompanied by a sharp tongue assimilating his wit. “While you’re busy glaring the shit out of me you’ve seemed to have forgotten my missing leg. -Don’t think I can step back for ya anytime soon.” Before long, the irritable comment had become estranged, embraced by foolishness and the bitter realization that he might’ve just dumped more soil on their finalized graves. Fortunately, before any paws piled across his chest and thick teeth tearing his pelt, Atelia had snipped in, letting her vocals fall firmly in the current of strong agitation.

In the moment, the male had turned, beckoning his siblings close with a mere amble of gaze. “Alright. If things get cross, just make a break for it, preferably across a river.” The eldest had muttered, voice low beneath the challenging snarls just behind. He doubted he wasn’t being watched. --Conversing in plain sight, but he at least knew that the chances of them remotely caring would be at a flat lining low. “Jade, you’re larger. You’ll be my support wall and Kenze, my support stick.” Already, a bout of bickering had ignited, the skinnier yearling swatting a careless paw at Jairo’s charcoal nostrils. “You’d rather endanger all of our lives than sacrifice yourself for us?” He spoke in a hushed and yet intense whisper, tail fluffed in mild defiance. “If I go down, you both go down with me. I’ve almost been assassinated by my own blood, and you expect me to play hero when you both would just drop dead after a minute by your lonesome? No thanks.”

Meeting adjourned, the male had turned, stare steadily milking the pathetic sight of Atelia’s frame curled what seemed indefinitely behind the black female's paws. And with a transferred gaze, the eldest would drink in her spiel, ears flapping oddly against his skull; evident uncertainty. Was this truly just a warning? Or some type of joke that’d make its play once backs were turned in retreat. Despite his caution, he had simply obeyed, throat crackling in a bothered snort whilst his paws began an unsteady hobble across the easing topography. As if it were a finale, the rain had begun to lessun, its loitering presence dribbling softly from the dipping leaves overhead. And only when the trio were a comfortable distance away had he unbraced his appendages, tail furling in radiant confidence whilst a pleased, though strange grin played at his lips. “They’ll definitely regret that.” Jade pressed his nose against his elder brother’s jangled leg, front paw hovering delicately just above the trembling blades of grass. “Regret what? Letting us go?”

“Exactly that.” Slowly, broad, muscular shoulders subsided in a relaxed slump, rear thumping gently against the spontaneous bedding that Kenze had gathered just beneath clustered pale spruce. “You’re acting as if we’ll be back in shape by tomorrow morning. Jairo. We’re starving, your leg is broken, that “wonder female” you’re so interested in even failed to stand up for herself. We are so screwed.” The eldest had offered nothing but a yawn, features stretched weary and wind tousled chest drifting slow onto his outstretched legs, back paws snug secure against his softer underbelly. “You both better find a decent carcass in the morning or I’ll kill you before your own hunger even has the chance to.” It was a final departure. Well, for the time being at least. Jairo slept, pelt rising cumbersome in comparison to earlier health. Naturally, Jade had been bullied into the unregarding chill of rainfall while Kenze had nestled close by his older siblings' figure, absorbing each others warmth and sharing the burden of drenched coats. But it had not been peaceful, not like the numerous other slumbers the brothers had shared. This one was different. A bitter and uneasy rest, for their futures had gradually begun to dissipate from the vista, now seeming a mocking glower upon their cold bodies, with each shaky breath Jairo took