Zoar Valley- July 16/17, 2016

-with the rest of his pack having retired back to their respective resting spots, Solomon yawns and stretches his lupine form. It had been a very long day, with many travels and adventures. He was glad to be back in the real world, surrounded by the comforting familiarity of the known. He scanned the small glade, looking at the other lupus, watching how they interacted, trying to divine the established hierarchy so he knew properly where his place was. Despite his weariness, he figured the pack would most likely hunt that night, and he might be expected to join them. He wandered up to a few of the wolves, assuming always the submissive posture of an outsider to the pack, allowing them to size him up at their leisure and decide if they wanted to interact with this omega of omegas. Any wolf who responded would be greeted warmly, with much muzzle touching and outward displays of affection of one wolf to another. But, as always, Solomon was keenly aware of his otherness to this group, and without direction once the wolf (or wolves) turned their attention from him the Bone Gnawer would simply sit and await the instructions of the Uktenna who promised him much knowledge-

Cameahwait would approach and sit with his pack.

"You come to learn the ways of the wolf, but we need food before we begin. You will learn the rituals for hunting and honoring the prey that we seek before you leave this forest."

Motioning to the pack, they all form around Cameahwait and he sits down to start a ritual for the upcoming hunt.

-sitting slightly apart from the gathering of wolves, Solomon listens with quiet intensity. He hears and sees the words of the Rite, feels the stirring in his breast as the spirits are called upon to guide the pack in their upcoming hunt. Once the ritual is finished, he rises to all fours, looking to his teacher Solomon asks- So then the hunt begins?

"You will follow my second on the hunt and follow his actions. I will follow and watch your actions. Be ready the hunt begins now."

Motioning to his beta, Cameahwait prepares to chase and watch the hunt.

-suddenly the pack around him explodes into motion. Wolves run quickly through the rustling underbrush, chasing some scent Solomon can not yet detect. Heart thumping in his chest, he frantically scrambles after Cameahwait's beta, stumbling through the thick foliage, the sounds of the pack filling his ears. The warm summer wind courses gently, lovingly, through Solomon's fur as he runs, runs, RUNS for what seems an eternity before he halts, panting loudly at the exertion, as the other wolves come up short. Frantically Solomon looks back and forth between Cameahwait and his beta, unsure what to do, knowing his instructors will not react kindly to failure. He sees the beta tense, then utter some low, barely audible vocalizations as the pack splits apart, fanning out to encircle a wide, grassy meadow. Solomon looks hard, his heart slamming against his rib cage-"Dammit, you are Garou" -He silently admonishes himself- "You are a warrior of Gaia, start acting like it!" -And suddenly the fear is replaced by something else....hunger. He can feel the twisting in his belly, the gnawing need to FEED, to feel warm flesh and blood between his teeth. A long, low growl rumbles in his throat, his ears laid back against his skull, seeing now, really SEEING the doe and her fawn that have been there all along, taking a late night (early morning?) snack. Solomon watches for the beta's signal, his body low to the ground, every muscle coiled tight like a spring. He doesn't know why exactly he is doing what he is, but it FEELS right, like any of the mundane things he would do as a human. Another low vocalization, and suddenly the pack is there, all around the doe, pouncing on her and ripping her flesh. Solomon joins in the frenzy, tearing at the helpless creature, its bleats of fear filling his ears like soothing music, its blood hot, salty and delicious on his tongue. Almost as soon as it has begun, the attack ends, the doe lying dead on its side. All the wolves sit for a moment, panting, but Solomon knows this is only a respite whilst the wolves recover and sort out the parts of the kill to the proper station.-