Mother Rayne

[ladywolf]

Rayne sniffed out the area, closing her eyes and inhaling deeply for any danger. The rains had come and changed the world once again, bringing a whole new canvass to create her pack's destiny. She smelled the bitter odor of rabbit urine and the faint trace of blood from Alira's hunt yesterday.

Inhaling once more she caught the familiar musk of her mate's passage and smiled. Kiba must have been securing the perimeter, this meant she could train their pups in peace under his watchful eye.

She turned and flicked her tail in a beckoning motion All right you two, it is safe to come out now. She watched as both her pups ventured from the large boulder she hid them behind. Rayne leaped over them and settled upon the massive rock watching.

Luna looked up to her What now mum? She curled her tail closer and settled her muzzle on her slender paws Now what? You tell me. Go and explore your world, but stay within the circle your father has marked for you. Remember that if you can't see me then you have gone too far. I'm not in the mood to track down lost pups. She replied with a quick flash of her fangs.

[ladywolf]

Both pups seemed confused with their new found freedom and Rayne settled in to study their movements. It took a moment, but slowly both of them started to explore with unbridled curiosity.

A falcon flew over head, releasing and ear splitting scream. Rayne smiled as both her pups jumped at the unexpected noise. Luna scanned the sky with her crystal eyes while Balo crouched into a fighting position, baring his small teeth threateningly.

Once the bird had passed and they felt the danger was gone, the small pups continued their trek under their mother's watchful eye. All ready she could see their personalities forming and she made mental notes of their different qualities.

Luna moved with a bit more hesitation than her brother, preferring to sniff something out before diving in. She was constantly stopping to inhale any changes to their world before exploring with no hidden glee to the new space.

Balo on the other hand had so much of his father in him that it made Rayne's heart warm. The small male sat on his tiny haunches, his tail swaying slightly as he scanned his new territory proudly. Though he was so caught up with watching he didn't notice his sister crouching into a fighting position and pouncing on her brother.

Rayne sighed contently and watched her pups play fight, all the while never ceasing to keep a close eye on their surroundings.

[elk]

Rabbit drew his nose in the air. His hurried breathing taking in the scent of wolf. He froze, his liquid eye drawing over the fields of dead grass. Where were they?

[ladywolf]

Rayne inhaled sharply a fresh scent of plump meat tickling her nose. Perfect....

She leaped down from her boulder ceasing her pups' play and her fur bristled We have prey nearby. You both follow me, but stay quiet and stop when I tell you.

Rayne stalked low to the ground, taking in the the sound and scent of the rabbit hopping quietly through the brush.

[elk]

Rabbit could hear the heavy paws crushing toward him. A black shadow was rearing from the grass. Blue eyes gazing down at him. His breath shivered. One more paw step more.
He bolted, blindly running past the black shadow wolves that melted his vision.

[ladywolf]

Her prey bolted and she ran after him, but turned on a split angle and bounded from the side, plotting the rabbit's movements. The small animal tried desperately to serpentine and escape the much larger wolf, but she was too quick. Waiting for it to turn to the right, the skilled huntress pounced and came down hard on its fragile neck.

Taking it carefully in her jaws, Rayne shook once to stun the panicking animal. The point was not to kill it, but bring it to her pups to practice their hunting.

She walked closer to the excited yipping of her pups at their mother's skill. Clearing her throat for seriousness, she dropped the animal in front of her offspring.
Have at it

[elk]

Rabbit couldn't move. The wolf had shaken him and now he was stuck. The yipping and sharp teeth just below his large feet made him want to sqeak.
I'm going to die...I'm going to die!!!
Rabbit felt their needle fangs in his skin. It was enough. He ran again.

The wolves weren't following. He was free!!!

[ladywolf]

Both pups leaped at the rabbit excitedly, their joy overcoming sense as they both pounced at the same time, running into each other instead of catching the rabbit. Rayne sat on her haunches and watched as the rabbit escaped deep into the brush. While she could catch it if she were alone, times were too dangerous to leave her pups even if it were in the safety of her mate's scent.

She turned her eyes down to her pups who were shaking their heads from the impact of slamming into each other. While it was more adorable than anything she had ever seen, this was a lesson first and she cleared her throat What do we think went wrong there?

Balo growled at his sister, his tiny pride flaring Mushroom brain over there ran into my head! Luna gasped at his indignant comment Only because it is so big that it blocked me from my kill!

Rayne rolled her eyes and leaped on both of them, her paws pinning them to the ground. They stared up at their mother surprised by her quickness when she growled It failed because you didn't work together. We are powerful creatures, our strength is feared alone, but we are most lethal when we hunt together. Luna, if you had cornered it and allowed your brother who has more power to pounce then it would have been more successful.

Balo flicked his tail, proudly at his mother's comment even though he was still pinned underneath her paw. She pressed on him slightly And Balo, if you had allowed your sister who is much quicker and more stealthy to make the strategy, you wouldn't have a throbbing head.

They both whined when she released them, licking their heads lovingly We hunt together, we survive together. Your father and I are dangerous on our own, but together we are unstoppable, let alone when you add in the rest of the pack. Here endth the lesson.