(( Clementine Dhaska will be unaware of anyone watching him throughout the hunt!))

Dhaska’s dreams of leading a family were always dashed by his doubtful father, who didn’t think he would ever make it to his second year. His father always saw him as a reckless whelp, and that his arrogance would get him killed before he ever stepped foot outside his natal territory.

You can’t go out expecting the valley to respect you. That’s stupid. You have to show the prey and competitors that you’re a survivor. You don’t have what it takes to prove that.

And yet, he did manage to prove that, long enough to see him through his prime and well into his elder years. He sired many healthy pups, maintained a respectable pack and enormous territory, proving without a shadow of a doubt that he was indeed a survivor. Not only that, but he was given a chance to prove it twice!

His father was right in some aspects, though. The wilderness was always watching, especially other wolves — potential competitors, or even mates — so he needed to advertise his strongest attributes as a survivor; strength, willpower, wisdom, and ferocity. A good solo hunt was always a wise choice, it displayed his ability to track and obtain sustenance. Even if the hunt failed, he would return, and the forest would see that he’s steadfast in his resolve, no matter what the ordeal is.

So, Dhaska set off at a brisk trot, searching for a scent that would hopefully lead him to prey. He still had the memory of his first solo hunt when he first struck out alone, so the experience was somewhat fresh in his mind, but it had been so long since he had been without hunting companions that he felt he would be a little rusty… Nothing a bit of determination and patience can’t fix, though.

(tracking; d20/3)

The young male had his nose to the ground for a while, but never picked up on anything worth following up on. Old tracks and the scent of other predators, nothing he needed to waste time tracking. With a sigh, Dhaska paused in the midst of the forest, lifting his nose to hopefully catch something airborne.

Clementine had spotted the male wolf long before he'd ever come into view. The she-wolf lay hidden beneath the shelter of a fallen cedar, her cream-and-russet coat blending surprisingly well with the dappled earth and dead leaves. Holly-green eyes followed his every movement with quiet amusement. She didn't know the male at all, but she knew he carried himself like a wolf with something to prove. And, more importantly, she knew he was hunting.

A faint smirk tugged at her muzzle.

If he managed to bring down something worthwhile, perhaps she'd save herself the trouble of chasing her own dinner. There was no harm in accepting an opportunity when one presented itself. Besides, if he was any sort of gentleman, perhaps he'd be willing to share.

If not... well...a girl had her options.

Clementine's smile sharpened ever so slightly. She shifted her paws beneath her chest, careful not to rustle the undergrowth, and settled in to watch. The male's nose traced the ground, then lifted to the breeze, searching, thinking, working. Patiently, she waited. For now, she was nothing more than another pair of eyes hidden in the forest, silent and still as stone, curious to see whether Dhaska's determination would reward him with prey—or leave him empty-pawed.

Dhaska

(base hunter 1/5)

Eventually, he did catch the scent of something worthwhile, and unmistakable; elk. They were a familiar sight all throughout his life, they were his and his family’s main source of food, and he’d come to know the beasts well. He knew how they ticked, how they lived, and what they did with the change of the seasons. Since it was summer, they were most likely found in higher elevations to distance themselves from the sweltering temperatures of the lowlands.

He was keenly aware of eyes trained on him, but he didn’t care to investigate who they belonged to; he was expecting to be watched.

Dhaska eventually found the herd, cows grazing with their young, easy targets if he could avoid getting turned into a red paste by their mothers. Though, ruefully it appeared Dhaska missed out on the opportunity to hunt them while they were young and vulnerable in the grass, stashed away by the cows while they left to graze.

No matter. A hungry wolf was always a determined one.

He began by making himself known, stalking around the herd while they eyed him warily. It was an ancient game of patience; both predator and prey showing that they were unshakeable. However, with the lives of so many calves on the line, the risk was too great for them to hold their ground, so they began running. Their escape was inelegant as cows and calves attempted to reunite with one another for safety, causing each individual to bump shoulders with another.

(rolling for a trip; d20/5)

Unfortunately, this did not present an opportunity, but the hunter continued the chase. Patience. Your prey will reveal itself.

(weakened elk; d20/15 (calf))

Not every member of the herd remained fit and healthy, and eventually, the weakest link would reveal itself. A calf struggled to keep up with its mother, visibly struggling to maintain pace despite only having begun to flee, its mouth agape as it attempted to supply its sickly lungs with oxygen. It slowed, distancing itself from the herd, and Dhaska dove for the opportunity.

The youngling let out an alarmed squeak as the wolf latched to its ankle. It stopped to confront him, its mother unaware that her calf had been left behind, Dhaska making sure to check she wasn’t charging at him as he circled his prey.

(mama comes to the rescue; d20/9)

As Dhaska seized the calf’s neck to begin wrangling it to the ground, thundering hooves of an individual elk had the wolf bolting out of the way, just narrowly avoiding a mighty kick. The calf’s mother charged him, but Dhaska dodged out of the way, allowing him to reanalyze the hunt with this new, inconvenient addition. No matter, it was nothing he couldn’t work around. If her calf was weak, maybe it was hereditary.

(successful hunt; d20/4)

Unfortunately, that was not the case. The cow was perfectly capable of fending Dhaska off, so much so that her ferocity made him decide to let them go. Allowing them to get a head start gave him the opportunity to follow from a distance, and watch for another advantageous angle to reveal itself.

Not all hunts were a success, some went on longer than the hunter preferred, but Dhaska determined that it was better to be alive to hunt tomorrow rather than being dead. For a second time.