Dauntless

Woot, So i finally got something finished. i have 8 things on the go, and work is still mental, but i wanted to get more done for Igi and Kaniq. I have been really enjoying hunting/exploration recently, and Kaniq has been amazing and managed to find some arrows, which coupled with the Bow some amazing person gave me recently i will be doing a lot more hunting images for her. 

I also rather enjoyed the bear, which was originally a fox before i realised i had a massive brainfart and had to change it XD

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Kaniq had itched to go out hunting for days. Her paws felt like ants were crawling all through her toes, and there was so much pent up energy in her that she spent most of the time pacing around inside the Ger, and getting into squabbles with the camps other Tokota's. She had been following her human as he worked with the female, but their work was smokey and loud. She grew bored and after Tuaq had told her several times to settle he finally sent her out.

She followed her nose. Two people were at a kill, the coppery scent of blood wove with the heavy scent of human. She licked her teeth, salivating as she saw them break down the kill. It had been far too long since she last tasted the warm satisfaction of prey in her teeth. She slunk between the Ger's, ears flat and mane bristled as two unfamiliar male Tokota's bolted past. Her lip raised and she crept even further out of camp. 

A dark female lay next to an outlying tent. Her white mane ruffled as she kept an eye on the group of cubs that wrestled and snuggled around her. The female looked up as Kaniq passed, she sniffed and watched as the large and antisocial newcomer moved away from her young. Before the half mane moved well past the camp lines and into the trees, one of the pups stopped his wrestling, curious at what this interesting new Tokota was doing. He broke away from his sibling and while his mother was distracted he happily trotted through the dried autumn grasses after Kaniq.

~

She had been trotting around, wandering in a wide loop around the camp. There would not be too much prey this close, but even a rabbit or raccoon would provide entertainment and something to snack on. She had felt a shift in the air, the slight change in pressure that turned the clouds into something heavier. Snow. There was also something else, the musky scent that put her on edge. There were bears nearby.

She heard a sudden yelp behind her, whirling around she crouched, fangs bared and eyes peeled for an attacker. A small dark cub lay sprawled at the bottom of a small hill, eyes wide and tail wagging gently at the big female. Icy blue eyes locked with golden brown and Kaniq relaxed a little. He was downwind, and there seemed to be no others nearby. Perhaps the young ones mother would be close, a good reason to move on.

She let out a low warning. Confident that the pup would return to its mother she turned and keeping an eye out for the source of the bear scent she set off at a brisk trot. 

It was only a short time later that she once again heard more noises behind her, and glancing back she saw the youngster loping along after her, tail high and tongue lolling out of his wide grin. She stopped, turning and with her large paw, firmly sent it head over heels. Another louder snarl and a snap of the teeth and she once again set off, this time at a faster pace.

Her ears flicked back and she heard the pup bolting after her. Irritation and confusion ate away at her and she sped up, now making very good time as she wove through the forest. Finally she slowed to a slow trot, her own tongue hanging out as she enjoyed the loose and stretched feeling of her muscles. There was no noises behind her and she slowed to a relaxed walk, smelling again and abruptly stopping as the scent of bear became much stronger. Her ears pricked, eyes darting and nose twitching as she tried to pinpoint the exact location. 

Her pulse thrumming through her body she started as the first heavy snowflakes began to fall. They drifted down, settling on her nose and back, collecting on the old summer grass and the scattered leaf litter. She backed away, careful to be quiet and made her way back through the trees. She would go around.

As she retraced the last part of her run she once again ran into the pup. The silly thing had ended up huddled under a log, small whimpers escaping as the snow began to blanket the landscape. Kaniq turned to go but the pup had spotted her. Eagerly he bolted over, wiggling in excitement before he flopped on his back rolling around at her feet as he tried to get her to play. 

There was still no sign of its mother. Kaniq lifted her paw away from him, and turned to go. The youngster flipped back over and bounded after her, trying to attack her back legs and tail as she walked. She shoved him sideways snapping and letting out a deep sigh. Needle sharp teeth would not be tolerated. 

They were soon covered in a dusting of snow, and the ground was quickly vanishing. There would be no good hunting today. She adjusted her direction, and they headed back towards the camp, small paws leaping where large ones had cleared a path.

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Word Count: 861


Link to import sheet: Kaniq 744
Link to hunting journal: Kaniq 744 Tracker
Items/Companions: Sturdy Bow + Flint Arrows

Link to import sheet: Deniigi 1067
Link to hunting journal: Deniigi 1067 Tracker
Items/Companions: None