The sun was starting to move lower in the sky as the sound of thunder gently caressed the ears. From the sound of it, the frozen doom Kyera had warned them about was well on its way. Melania tied the last strap over the small mound of rabbit, fox, and deer she had managed to gather. None of them were trophy kills, but they were plump from binge feeding before hibernation. Each shot was perfectly clean, and the organs carefully removed from the chest cavity. Now instead, each animal was stuffed with snow to keep the meat while she continued her hunt.
She wiped the sweat from her brow and pet the lovely ash colored wolf as she looked at the clouds. Her white breath curling like smoke from her lungs. "We should head back. The snow will only get heavier." She sighed looking at her kills. It was probably not enough to win, but it was something at least. A wistful sadness pricked her heart as she realized Damar would probably be disappointed. Her hunting was the only thing he had seemed proud of.. but this was not much of a hunt. Unfamiliar landscape, and the snow made it hard to track for someone who was use to the warm earthen jungles to the white wilds.
The wolf pushed its head into her hand, asking for more petting. She chuckled and obliged her, but then her ears pricked and she glanced away from them. Melania could hear a faint scream and the sound of a wolf howl. "That doesn't sound good." She jumped onto the sled, unaware that her two capable counterparts had done the same at the exact same moment. All of them responding to the blood curdling sounds.
"Ashara…" She asked and the wolf bolted in the direction of the scream. Melania pulled her bow and notched it, using her core body to stay stable as the sled rocked along beneath her. Every hair on the back of her neck stood on end as she neared the scream.
What she found when they burst into the clearing by the river bank made her feel speechless. A large white bear with frosted blue tips to its fur was roaring with anger. Two arrows protruded from the space behind its shoulder blades, blood pouring down it's back as it roared in agony. Melania felt the anguish of the bear's pain, especially when she saw the bloodied cub hiding behind its mother's back. It had a arrow wound in its side, but it appeared to be only a glancing blow. It was clear the mother was not so lucky, and yet she was trying desperately to attack the woman clinging to the center of three trees.
The trees grew just close enough that the mother bear could not force her great paws between the trunks. Melania wished for a moment it could, the Cub's pained whimpers were enough for her to wish death on the hunter. Just as she struggled with what to do, a second form on a crimson wolf dashed over her head. Kyera and her wolf landed and gained the bear's attention.
"Shhhh Mama… shhh…" Kyera spoke quickly and in gentle tones. Her voice then turned to a language Melania had heard bits and pieces of before. Normally a few guards spoke similarly as they passed off her or the children's care. soon the bear turned and seemed to quiet, Melania's bow still quivered with the concealed power of its arrow. The bear noticed her and growled rearing at Kyera who cried out in fear and wrapped her arms around her waist. As she did the bear stopped, having nearly batted Kyera away with its paw. The mothers eyes were trained on Melania.
Knowing instantly what to do, Melania tossed her bow away despite screams from the tree. It was clear the other hunter demanded this bear's life but Melania did not intend to slaughter a mother with Cubs. There were some things even a hunter should not do. The bear roared again, but it was softer and the eyes seemed grateful. The animal did not want to become a beast.
"Melania, deal with Feya. I need to heal this pair." Kyera called as she rose to her feet. She began working her hands over the Cub's side before Melania could think to move.
She regained her senses and walked over to Feya who was struggling to free herself of the trees vines. The thick ropes seemed to wrap around her tighter as she tried to free herself. If Melania hadn't known it was impossible, she would say the vine was stubborn and refusing to release her. Then again how could a vine have a mind of its own? She grabbed her sister in laws hand and jerked her free.