Ari

Hope is but a waking dream

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

Comet

Arctic Wolf

Comet was woken up from her nap by the sound of Aristotle's voice. Time seemed to pass really quick when you sleep. Although the grass was very soft and she wanted to rest a bit more, she scrambled onto her feet. You're back! she ran over to the big lion and licked him all over his face. Her tail wagged uncontrollably, flattening a circle of grass in the ground.
What are we going to do today daddy? asked Comet. She decided she had enough energy to do plenty of things. And whatever Aristotle had planned, even if she didn't know what it was, sounded really fun! He always thought of good things to do. She hoped it was something that involved a lot of activity, because her legs could use the work.

@Aristotle

Ari

Hope is but a waking dream

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

Comet

Arctic Wolf

Comet saw Aristotle sniff a bit and look worried. But he gave a her a grin, and a deep purr from his chest. The vibration spread through her small body and warmed her up. Yay! Hunting! Comet was very eager to have the lesson. Although she had caught things before, her skills were not that good. She still had to learn the tactics required for catching prey, because it was not completely about brute force.
She was a little disappointed that Sun couldn't go with them, but she understood that he was not the fastest on the ground, and he enjoyed eating fruits more than meat. Comet followed Aristotle out the doorway. Immediately, his stature changed, he was now more alert. She followed suit and raised her nose into the air. She pricked her left ear too, this was one of the times she found having a deaf right ear annoying.
Then Aristotle whispered that he caught the scent of a rabbit. Comet smelled the scent too. She noticed that he kept his voice low, probably so the rabbit would not be scared away. That was probably the reason why many times she walked too loudly and didn't catch any prey. She saw that the lion did not know where the rabbit was, so she scanned the area with her eyes, hoping to spot some movement.
Comet spotted the faintest movement, so small she almost missed it. Found it, it' right there. she kept her eyes on the rabbit so she would not lose it. She felt quite proud of herself that she found the rabbit for them to hunt.

@Aristotle

Ari

Hope is but a waking dream

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

Comet

Arctic Wolf

Comet saw Aristotle had found the rabbit too. She followed his instructions and focused on her paw steps. Her fur itched. The rabbit was right there! She resisted the urge to bolt out and chase after the rabbit, knowing that in doing so they would lose the element of surprise. Several times she accidentally moved a few rocks, but the rabbit didn't seem to notice. Her paws shook with both excitement and nervousness, making it that much harder for her to not make a sound. Comet pressed herself close to the ground, her thick fur brushing a few pebbles but other than that it was fine. She looked at Aristotle to make sure she was doing the right posture, and corrected herself.

Only a few minutes had passed, but to Comet it felt like forever. They were within striking distance of the rabbit. She froze when the wind blew through the area, potentially alerting the rabbit of their presence. But it was okay, and the rabbit relaxed again, unaware of the danger it was in. She felt Aristotle give her the signal, it was time.

She gathered all her energy into her legs, and pounced. Comet soared through the air, and landed squarely on the rabbits back. She bit its neck and held it until it was still. I did it daddy, I did it! exclaimed Comet. Even though it was just a rabbit, she felt a surge of pride in catching some yummy prey.

@Aristotle

Ari

Hope is but a waking dream

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

Comet

Arctic Wolf

His proud smile sent a warm feeling through Comet. She was proud, and even happier that Aristotle was proud of her too. Although it was not her first kill, it was her best. I will work very hard, Daddy! I will be the best hunter! she exclaimed. She was sure with enough practice she would be killing deer soon.
She listened to him ask if she wanted to keep the pelt as a prize. Yes! she watched excitedly, she couldn't wait to return to their house and show Sun. That must be how there are so many pelts back at her home, it must've taken a long time to catch all that prey. Comet decided she would have to learn how to make pelts like that too. But it seemed her claws were not as good for that kind of thing. She watched Aristotle intently.

@Aristotle

Ari

Hope is but a waking dream

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

Comet

Arctic Wolf

Comet beamed as Aristotle agreed that she would be a great hunter. Praise, especially from a parent, is the best kind of reward she could ever have. She felt warm all over. She hoped to make him proud all the time.
She watched intently as Aristotle laid the rabbit on its back and make precise cuts on its belly. Each cut ran down a limb, and went in a completely straight line. The she watched him use his sharp claws to remove the pelt from the rabbit completely. Comet listened to him explain that it needed to dry and then fold then flesh side in on itself. She tried very hard to memorize all these steps in the hope that some day she would be able to do it herself.
Now the only thing left was the skin-less rabbit. It looked very weird. Sure! she replied. Comet tore off a leg and pushed the rest towards Aristotle. Because he was so big, he probably needed to eat more. The leg was already enough for her, she had a big meal. The rabbit tasted better than anything she had eaten before. Not because it was her first rabbit, but because it was a great hunt. Soon, the meaty leg was chewed down to the bone. Comet burped, I'm full. She wondered if Aristotle planned for them to go hunt more prey, so she could improve her skills, or if was enough for the day. Comet was a bit too full now to stalk well.

@Aristotle