Aristotle trotted eagerly into the house. He had returned from his errand to Canis. It had been an eerie feeling in that strange room filled with so many bones. He would maybe one day take the children there to pay respects to the creatures who had once resided in those bones. He didn’t think anyone in the caves other than him thought about what happened after one died. He hadn’t slept yet but he wasn’t tired in the least. Instead his stomach grumbled loudly in protest as he hadn’t eaten for a few days. So many things had happened in the last few weeks.

Pulling his mind from his thoughts. He trotted into the house quickly spotting Sun hanging in the trees in the main room. He was hanging upside down munching on an apple. This brought a rather amused grin to his face. Sun was such a happy and cheerful little guy, he always brought a smile to Aristotle’s face. Looking around he scanned the room for Comet. Comet! Sweetling I have something for us to do! Aristotle called to the little wolf cub. He was going to take her on a hunting lesson. He was sure she was getting along fine hunting on her own, but it could always help to have a guiding hand to figure things out quicker.


@Comet

Aristotle strode into the room, spotting the little girl napping. He smiled when she leaped up to greet him crying that he was back. I said I would come back. He affirmed softly as he ran a gentle tongue over the girls head lovingly. He accepted the licks gladly as he let out a pleased purr from his throat. This was quite a little greeting and he was quite sure he liked this kind of welcome home.

He looked around the room and lifted his head sniffing for a scent. The scent was old but there. Which meant he still hadn’t returned. This meant that something had to have happened to James. A deep worry began to seat itself in the lion's chest. When he was hunting with Comet, he would be sure to keep an eye for any trace of James around Orion.

The lion looked down at the cob with a gentle smile. I know you hunt like me, so I thought a Hunting lesson might be good to help you learn faster. Aristotle offered the day's plans eagerly. He always loved hunting it was fun to chase prey and the end always meant he got to eat. Sun will stay here because he won’t be able to keep, and he doesn’t eat meat. The lion spoke as he looked up at the little gibbon watching them as he hung upside down. Stay out of trouble Sun. Aristotle joked at the little gibbon. He was never any trouble.

The lion turned from the doorway and started off at a walk. He was now in hunt mode. His nose picking out any scent he might find. Baby blue eyes watched the ground and nearby area for any signs of prey passing by. As the pair moved down to a nearby alleyway a scent struck his nose and smiled. Do you smell that? It’s a rabbit. Perfect prey for you. Aristotle spoke softly not sure how far away it would be.


@Comet

Aristotle smiled brightly at the little wolf’s enthusiasm over hunting. Good an eager student was always a welcome thing. It was always better when someone wanted to learn. He had learned the finer points of hunting over time.

Aristotle walked at a much slower pace, his body relaxed but his eyes, ears and nose were all on alert. He was quick to pick up the scent of nearby prey. His nose keen to the scent of the rabbits that happened to burrow around this area.

Quickly after he pointed out the scent, Comet had caught sight of the Rabbit and pointed it out. He caught sight of it rather easily. Aristotle crouched lightly as he began to move forward. His steps slow and each one thought out and felt the ground for debris that might possibly be kicked to alert the rabbit. ”Okay. Feel the ground with your paws with every step before you set your paw down. Make sure you aren’t going to break a twig or kick a rock.” The Lion instructed in a soft hushed voice. ”Be sure to keep close to the ground to make yourself harder to see.” Aristotle explained as he moved forward a few more steps demonstrating his posture.

”Get as close as you can. Now on my signal pounce.” Aristotle moved closer though a breeze passed by them and the rabbit sat up from the bit of grasses it was munching and sniffed the air, before setting back down. After a few moments the rabbit relaxed and Aristotle nodded and whispered.”Now!” He urged the girl to go.


@Comet

Aristotle watched Comet as she moved. He observed everything, from her posture to every movement of her paws. She was a quick learner. He was quite impressed with how easily she could follow directions after just showing her the posture once. She looked back at him for affirmation and he nodded and gestured with a paw for her to go.

He watched as she took her chance launching her little body into the air, she sailed easily through the air her body coming down on the rabbit. Her pounce could have been cleaner as well as the landing but they could work on that. This was just to assess how much work he would need to put into her.He watched her bite noting that it was clean and swift. A brilliant proud smile spread over the lion’s muzzle as he sat up from his crouched position. ”Yes you did sweetling, and you did amazingly. Need a little work on the posture and walking quietly a bit but you did very good Comet.” The lion purred with pride as he walked over to his daughter and her prize.

”Would you like to keep its fur as a prize?” Aristotle offered, he had learned how to use his claws to remove the skin of animals to keep them. It was how he had made their pelt bed and he had gotten quite good at it.

@Comet

The lion couldn’t help the pride he felt in the wolf at the swift and clean kill she had made. The rabbit hardly suffered at all. Though he could show her a better and swifter way to dispatch the rabbit than suffocation. It was something he had developed on his own during his own hunting sessions. A warm smile rested on the lion’s muzzle as she spouted out that she would be the best hunter.

Aristotle leaned down and gently nuzzled the little girl. ”I believe you will sweetling, with some practice and guidance you will become an excellent hunter.” Aristotle purred the words proudly. Almost as quickly as the question to keep the pelt left his mouth. The little girl had answered with an enthusiastic yes. This brought a light amused smile to the lion’s face.

The lion quickly set to work, using his sharp knife like claws to make slits in certain places on the carcass. Then he made a swift cut up the stomach and down each limb. Then he gently used his claw to separate the rest of the flesh from the pelt itself.”We’ll have to hang the pelt out to dry when we get home, but it will look nice.” Swiftly he folded the pelt in on itself so that the viscera side was against itself to keep blood from getting on the velveteen fur. Then he slipped it in his own rabbit skin bag. ”Are you hungry? It’s bad to waste. Want to share it?” Aristotle offered he wasn’t exactly hungry but he could use a snack. To the lion the rabbit would truly have been nothing more than a crunchy snack for him. And only eating half of it would be nothing more than a morsel but he was alright with that if the little wolf wasn’t very hungry.


@Comet