...and they were gone, the last scattering of hoofbeats a soft staccato on the earth of Eridanus. A few leaves rattled in their wake, dewdrops spilling, but the deer had woven out of sight and vanished into the forest.
@Renasci
It would be many hours before a herd happened this way. Renasci would need to wait until the orb-light had dimmed into night and then rose again near morning to find a scattered handful of Jungle Deer browsing toward them.
Three brown, two green and a yellow, two with antlers, were plodding gradually in Renasci's direction. As they came, they were eating: a couple of steps and then chewing on the bushes, lifting their heads to scan their surroundings as they moved through the foliage. Nostrils flared now and then but they seemed not to find Renasci's scent, at least.
If they were patient, and very quiet, perhaps the deer would wander into their traps.
Assuming they had waited this long, and were still awake...
@Renasci
By sheer terrible luck, the high-branch trap was triggered first. A doe--without antlers--reached up to browse the juicy foliage; the snare triggered a moment later, snapping up noose-first and catching on thin air where antlers might have otherwise been.
As one, the herd turned and bolted, startled by the sound and weaving off into the underbrush.
It was a sign, perhaps, to reset the traps, or even adjust them and try again.
note: which trap would be triggered, and whether by an antlered buck or unantlered doe, was rolled on Discord
@Renasci