Smarter Rabbits

It was still pre-dawn, the land shrouded in shadows while the sky held a touch of pink that slowly made the stars disappear, when Avalik was woken up with a wet nose to her face. It was Almost. The little toki was grinning down at her with her tail wagging behind her, excited. With a groan the handler rolled over and tried to go back to sleep. Hot breath with traces of a fishy smell met her on that side. Her eyes blinked open again. Wicket. The sphinx toki was also staring down at her, though not quite as smiling as Alms. No one really smiled as much as Alms though. With a sigh, she pushed the blankets down and rubbed the sleep from her eyes as a yawn took over her mouth. She looked over to where her current partner slept, surrounded by her own goliaths.

“Maya,” she called to the small anthro, “if I have to get up then you have to as well!”

Maya rolled over to shoot a half-hearted glare Avalik’s way.

“My babies are still sleeping so… no.” With that she disappeared under her blankets once more.

Her ‘babies’ were Banshee and Carolyn. Banshee currently lay curled up right next to Maya, body swathed in a large knit sweater, and pressing up again both Maya and Carolyn for more warmth. She was a heat stealer. The tokota seemed to agree with her handler and only snuggled closer in response. Carolyn lifted a heavy head, eyes blinking the sleep away, wondering what the yelling was about so early in the morning.

Alms decided to take action and bounded over to the small group, satisfied that Avalik was finally getting up. She yipped and nudged and bounced around the trio. Banshee gave her a grumpy glare while Carolyn’s lip twitched into a smile. Alms’ endless energy never ceased to amaze her. Carolyn pushed herself into a stand and shook out her fur. Banshee finally uncurled as Maya dragged herself up, stretching out like a cat.

Eventually everyone was up and Avalik was starting a fire up while Maya was dicing some fish and vegetables for breakfast. They had to have their energy today as they hunted. They were headed to a secluded grove within a small copse that Avalik said were breeding grounds for the bunnies. She had hunted there not long ago and it was quite a fruitful hunt. Hopefully the rabbits hadn’t moved after that success. If they did then they couldn’t have gone far.

Wicket was pacing back and forth, ready to go. He remembered the last hunt well and his mouth salivated with the memory. It was like toki heaven. Alms had been there two and the fluffy toki was also excited, though it didn’t take much to get her enthusiastic when she was doing it with others. It would be Banshee and Carolyn’s first time there. It had been a while since either had feasted on rabbit. Everyone seemed to be in a good mood despite how early they’d been woken up.

Once Maya and Avalik had finished their breakfast and the tokotas had eaten theirs, the gear was packed up and they were off. The hunting party set out at a steady pace, neither in a hurry nor dawdling. They had a ways to walk before they reached their destination, having to walk along the bank of a lake to reach the stand of pines. Alms would straddle the line where water met land, dipping her toes in the icy waters and breaking the thin ice near the bank. The middle of the lake was still frozen, though patches of dark blue had started to spread where it was thinning in the spring heat.

Wicket was a man on a mission, eyes forward and practically marching while he led the pack. Banshee walked next to Maya and Avalik, a happy hum vibrating her chest as her doting handler rubbed her neck. Carolyn was right behind them, watching Alms play with an amused smile.

Finally the troupe left the lake behind and headed into the small forest. The path was slightly overgrown and they weaved their way between thick trunks and underbrush. As they neared the target area, their gait slowly transitioned from leisurely to a hunter’s prowl. Maya pulled her spear off Carolyn and Avalik strung her bow. The handlers proceeded to unload the tokotas and let them hunt freely, stashing their gear nearby. The hunters shook out their fur and readied themselves. Wicket took the lead as usual, Banshee eyeing him like she didn’t think he was the best for the task and perhaps she should take over, but she allowed it for now. He had been here before whereas she hadn’t. Alms fell into step to the side and slightly behind the sphinx toki, it was her usual position. Banshee decided to lead the flanking and headed off, skirting the clearing until she was in position. Carolyn headed around the other way, not as far as her fellow tokota but enough that her and the two tokis would be coming in at different angles while still herding the rabbits to Banshee’s trap. Avalik and Maya stood at the ready behind the tokis.

Once everyone was in position and ready to go, they advanced right to the edge of the treeline. Wicket scented at the air. The smell of rabbit was not near as thick as the last time he had been hunting here but it was still tangible. The bulk of the rabbits had likely went in search of a new place to settle and make baby bunnies, with only a few stragglers hanging back here.

Wicket gave the signal and the hunting party rushed in. Banshee waited a few moments before rushing in as well, letting the rabbits believe they were safe. All of their efforts were for naught as a lone rabbit took off. Alms and Carolyn easily worked together to give it a swift death. Wicket growled in discontentment, kicking at a dead branch. Banshee sidled up to Maya and Avalik, nudging her handler for attention.

“Guess they smartened up and headed somewhere new.” Maya was patting Banshee’s neck absently while she stuck her spear in the ground and talked to her hunting partner.

“Guess so!” She answered, nudging her shoe in the dirt. She began looking around for signs of which direction they had gone in. “Wicket, Alms. Let’s pick up the scent.”

It was time for some tracking. Maya took the one rabbit from Carolyn and stowed it in her pack that was slung across her body. The group split off, each tokota fanning out in order to pick up the trail. It was hard. There was a lot of scat and tracks decorating the area from when it was overrun with rabbits. Wicket thought he picked up a trail and the group was off. It lead down a slope which ended in a cliff face and they had to backtrack. The sun was already starting to dip lower and lower, shadows stretching out like reaching fingers. They had spent nearly the whole day with nearly nothing to show for it. One meager bunny. Banshee was starting to get frustrated and her low whine that inspired her namesake started to build. Wicket growled and Alms pawed at her ear. Carolyn was used to it by now and just grit her teeth, ears flicking back against her skull as she moved to try and pick up the trail once more. Avalik covered her ears and half-smiled at Maya who moved to comfort the sphinx, answering with a sheepish grin of her own.

Carolyn broke the sound finally, thank god. Everyone breathed a sigh of relief and shook their heads to clear the ringing sound that echoed. The tokota had found another trail. This one was more promising as she had seen a rabbit scampering down it to escape Banshee’s moan.

The tokota crowed in triumph and took off down the path. It was only a few moments before everyone was rushing after her. Maya nearly forgot her spear in the chaotic scrambling to follow. She looped back and plucked it from the dirt, Banshee following her handler. The sphinx lowered herself so Maya could hop on so they could easily catch up and keep up with the pack. Wicket noticed the handler riding atop her tokota and glanced at Avalik who was struggling to keep up. He nudged Alms and motioned to their handler, not even breaking his stride. The fluffy toki rolled her eyes but swung back to let Avalik jump onto her back. They moved like the wind, winding between trees and dodging branches and fallen logs and thorny bushes.

Now the hunt was really on.