in the lions' den ] hunting

SHAGGYDOG

DOG THAT BITES THE HAND
Mar 23, 2023
13
1
3
The chill is biting this morning. Frost coats the leaves, glistening in the pale light, and each step Shaggydog takes crackles softly beneath its paws. It treads quietly, keen eyes fixed ahead, alert for the faintest movement. The cold has driven much of the prey into hiding, but Shaggydog knows where to look—knows the corners of WindClan territory like its own matted fur. Solitude sits comfortably on its shoulders. It's the only company it trusts. Crouched low, its tail flicking, Shaggydog watches a particularly plump hare just ahead, its nose twitching as it picks through the frost-slick grass. Hunger gnaws at its belly, making its jaw tighten in anticipation. It inches forward, every muscle taut as it inches closer to striking distance. With a sudden lunge, Shaggydog springs, claws extended, teeth flashing in the weak light. The hare bolts, but it's too late. Shaggydog's powerful hind legs launch it forward, and within seconds, the struggle is over. It sinks its teeth into the hare's throat, feeling the satisfaction of a kill well earned. A good piece of prey, large and meaty—it'll fill bellies back at camp, and maybe silence a few of the more despondent voices. Shaggydog drags the hare as it raises to its feet, adjusting the weight in its jaws before turning to make the trek back.

A low growl stops it cold.

Hackles raised, Shaggydog's head snaps around, catching sight of the source—there, not far from the undergrowth, a large, rough-coated dog is staring it down, teeth bared in a snarl. Its beady eyes gleam with a feral hunger, and a shiver, sharper than the cold, creeps up Shaggydog's spine. Shaggydog knows this type well enough—it's not here to intimidate. It's here to hunt. The dog bounds forward, powerful paws scattering frost and earth as it charges, jaws agape. Shaggydog's muscles coil, instincts sharp as it throws the hare aside, its prize temporarily abandoned as it braces for the attack. In a heartbeat, the dog is on it, snapping jaws missing by a hair's breadth as Shaggydog sidesteps, claws unsheathed, teeth bared in a furious hiss. It leaps forward, aiming to land a blow across the dog's muzzle, but the dog's sheer size forces it back. Shaggydog skids, feeling the sting of frost beneath its paws, a wild energy surging through its veins.

The dog snarls again, lunging, but Shaggydog meets it head-on this time. Their bodies collide, fur and frost mingling in a blur of fury, and Shaggydog's claws dig deep, raking across the dog's shoulder with fierce precision. It twists away, snarl sounding from its throat loudly in response to the dog's own, sharp eyes never leaving its opponent.

[ rolled a 5 — decided on a dog attacking :3 rolled an 18 for it to catch and keep the prey, and a 15 for large prey (in this case, a hare) ]​