Solo Hunting Trip [Job Thread]

[Saraphina Skyglow]

Saraphina Skyglow 57th Day of Winter 514 AV T he snow had fallen and the drifts were piling high. Saraphina's small campsite had padded trails leading from the stream to the fire pit to the larger tent her Bondmate had set up near the treeline. Yuri Lehrer had arrived at Syliras a few days ago, much to the ginger Kelvic's delight. Having her Bondmate near again was a relief and a driving need. With his return, Saraphina had helped him set up his gear in her campsite. Which included a larger tent than her one man shelter. She was glad to be able to share such a close space with her mate, it helped to strengthen and further develop a young bond. Her own smaller space was used mostly for storage now. But today, she'd woken and packed up her backpack with a few things. Saraphina was in need of a good hunt, both for her own need and to provide some income for herself. There was a small clearing in her territory that played host to several deer. The thought of the challenge made the Kelvic grinned almost savagely, exposing her elongated canine teeth. Shouldering her bag, Saraphina headed out on her trip. F orcing her way through the snow drifts, she pulled her wool cloak tighter around her shoulders. The wind was harsh and blew streams of glittering white dust through the air. Saraphina couldn't help but feel a strong attachment to the cold winter scene. There was a cruel beauty out here, an unforgiving and deadly world that didn't give two shytes who you were. It treated you the same way and would spit you out without remorse if you didn't treat it with respect and awe. And Saraphina loved every single inch of it. As nice as the summer months were, this season...this was what she was. Trudging through the snow, she marveled at the crystal beauty of Morwen's hand. So lovely and so deceiving in its quiet, cool song. After walking through the frost forest for a while, she came upon the clearing she was looking for. Tracks from a herd of deer were tramped into the snow, fresh tracks only a day old. As well, when she looked at the trees, bark was stripped from the birch trees. A sure sign that it was a good spot to begin her hunt. Dusk would be when the herbivores appeared, it was the safest time for them. S he was careful as she moved around. Her tracks would leave scent marks that she wanted to avoid. The last thing she wanted was to spook her prey by being foolish. Finding a location near the clearing that had spikes of grass sticking up above the snow, she decided to make that her stalking point. Shrugging off her backpack, she took out her knife and cut a good sized bough from a nearby pine tree. Setting down the branch, she took out her trapping kit. Pushing aside the snares, Saraphina took out a small glass vial. Closing the kit and replacing it, she picked up the bough again and walked out into the clearing. The vial contained the common scent of a deer. Placing a few drops onto the snow in various locations, she put the stopper back in and grabbed the branch. As she walked backwards towards the spot she'd chosen, Saraphina swept the branch back and forth over her tracks to erase the sight and lessen the smell she left behind. Hopefully the deer would be more interested in the strange scent of the oil than her odor. Once back at her spot, Saraphina striped out of her clothes and stuffed them into her bag, covering the canvas with the branch before shifting to her Northern Tiger form.

[Saraphina Skyglow]

D usk was falling and shadows started to form across the snow. Night time birds started to chirp and twitter about. Saraphina crouched low in the snow bank, still and unmoving with golden eyes focused out on the clearing. Patience was key to a successful hunt, trying to rush things only resulted in failure. Her animal form was best suited as an ambush hunter, one who sprang from the darkness and quickly overcame her prey with brute strength and razor talons. But she needed to wait for something to come close enough. Saraphina had an advantage other predators didn't possess, she had the intellect of a human mind behind her feline appearance. It made her able to react to the situation differently, predict how the game would act and made her a far more deadly and successful predator. Ears swivelled about to pick up the slightest sound around her and she had to consciously stop her tail from twitching in anticipation. I t took less time than she'd thought before the slow moving shapes emerged from the treeline. Thin, willow sharp legs, long necks and lithe bodies crawled from the woodworks in a snail paced brigade. The herds ears twitched and turned, their heads were held high as they scanned the clearing for danger. For a prey animal, it was a constant fight for survival. Everything and anything seemed to always be looking for a way to end them, so caution was taken with every beat of their hearts. But the herbivores were too far away to detect the stealthy Tiger hidden in the snow so they moved further into the clear to feed. One bell passed by as Saraphina stayed unmoving and studied the herd carefully. There were seven deer in total, ranging from full adults to adolescents. She was getting a bit frustrated that none of them had moved close enough to her position to warrant a successful strike and was just about to consider moving to a new location when one of the deer lifted its head. Nostrils flared and scented the air. Ears flicked back and forth, before slowly, inch by inch, the deer started to walk towards her. Saraphina struggled to contain her excitement, her heart started to beat faster and muscles coiled in anticipation. S he crouched lower to the ground, staring unblinking at the brown deer as it moved closer and closer towards her. Its head lowered to the ground, sniffing curiously at the snow. The bait had worked, the false scent she'd spread out was drawing the flighty creature in. Saraphina's claws slipped from her sheaths and her lips pulled back from her teeth. Almost time, it was almost close enough to risk a strike. The deer took a few more steps, smelling the ground...and then its head snapped up. Knowing she only had a few precious moments, Saraphina burst from the cover. Muscled coiled and fired, launching the massive Tiger across the opening. Snow flew from under her in a white cloud and the deer's legs scrambled to find purchase. Five lunging strides found the hunter alongside the deer and Saraphina pivoted on spot. Leaping into the air, she wrapped her ham sized paws around the deer's torso. Using her greater size and weight to her advantage, the Tigress latched her wickedly curved claws into course fur and rolled, bearing the deer to the ground. Feet kicked widely as it tried to throw her off, but it was already too late. Serrated teeth designed to severe flesh and sinew tore into the soft tissue of the struggling prey's neck. Blood filled her mouth as she whipped her head back and forth to rend open the fluid filled vessels faster. The deer struggled helplessly for a few more minutes before its flailing became weaker, its kicks less frantic, before it soon ceased moving and its breath fell in short, shallow breaths. The hunt was over moments later, the predator was victorious.