by §Nevermore.Hautbois§ » Tue Jan 17, 2012 3:57 am
Name: Kapugen(it means 'warrior' in Inuit. Kapu for short)
Kapugen let out a growl, signalling for his four hunters to form a line behind him. This was not his first time being lead hunter on a hunt, and he had specific techniques for his hunting party. Leading the party through tall grass, Kapu put his nose to the air, alert for prey. After about an hour he picked up something, the smell of an elk herd. Swishing his long lion-like tail he commanded his followers to stay put. With the aid of his brown and tawny pelt he stalked through the dead winter grass. He was made for this and he knew it.
All of his markings made sense, his stripes, his odd paw colours. They were all for camouflage. However, his wings did cause some issues. While true they were helpful in escape and battle and could probably assist Kapugen in his hunting, he preferred to hunt on the ground using stealth instead of leaps and speed. The wings were bulky, and he often found them distracting.
The camouflaged male was climbing a hill, his party waiting behind. Once he reached the top he saw the elk down below. Having to go down into the valley would be difficult for his team but he knew his party would succeed. Another swoosh of his slender tail and the other ryuks were coming up upon him. Once they were all gathered he pointed his black nose at an old cow, his emerald eyes locked on her. Having told his party what elk to chase he turned, softly padding down the hill. He quietly waited, hiding in the winter-dried grass. The party would drive the elk through the shallow part of the river in hopes of tiring it before Kapugen was able to spring and make the final kill. His second, Amari, was injured in the last hunt and had to be replaced with a young, head-strong male, Keru. Though worried about Keru's lack of experience, Kapu was sure they could bring down the elk.
A sound, a glomping. Running hooves pounding the earth as they came near him, closer and closer. All of the ryuks were still chasing the old cow, Keru unable to get upon the beast's back. If the young one didn't soon it could put them all in danger and jeopardize the hunt. The team was on the cow's heals, chasing it towards the water, only now there was no sign of the new second anywhere. Though Keru was missing, Kapugen was close enough to the elk to spring and make the final bite. He ran into the water, his wings folded back, his muscles pulsing. The beast reared in the air, its hooves barely missing the leader's head. Snarling, the strong male jumped, grabbing ahold of the prey's neck, his sharp canines digging past the rough hide and into the stringy meat, severing an artery. Blood gushed and poured out everywhere, staining Kapu with victory as the dying cow fell, laying lifeless in the shallow waters of the icy river, its blood tainting it red. Silently the ryuk gave thanks for the animal's life, and when he finished the rest of the team started tearing the meat to take it back home. Their lead however, did not touch the meat. Instead he went to find the fallen hunter, his new second. He started of at a brisk pace, his paws carefully paced, steady and firm. Each step he took left a paw print in the dry earth, along with a trickling trail of elk blood. It wasn't long before he found the ryuk lying still in the grass. The second had suffered from a hard kick, causing him to loose consciousness. There was no blood except that of the elk, and the hunter was still breathing. Slowly, Kapugen wedged him self under Keru, lifting him onto his back before turning, carefully heading to the river where he had left the party and the elk. When he returned, the respected lead was greeted only by nods as he gripped the last of the meat in his maw, Keru still on his back. Everything settled, the party headed home to feed the pack and get attention to Keru. Once again Kapugen was deemed a hero.